مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ لَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَلَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلًا 143
Translations
Wavering between them, [belonging] neither to these [i.e., the believers] nor to those [i.e., the disbelievers]. And whoever Allāh sends astray - never will you find for him a way.
Transliteration
Mudhbadhbīna bayna dhālika lā ilā hā'ulā'i wa lā ilā hā'ulā'i wa man yuḍlil allāhu fa lan tajida lahu sabīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Madinah who were neither fully committed to Islam nor to their former pagan ways, constantly vacillating between both positions. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'wavering between that' depicts their spiritual instability and lack of sincere conviction. The concluding statement emphasizes that once Allah withdraws His guidance from such people due to their deliberate deception and spiritual weakness, no human effort can restore them to the right path.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage (4:137-145) addressing the characteristics of hypocrites in the early Muslim community. The context specifically deals with those who professed Islam outwardly while harboring disbelief inwardly, a significant challenge during the Prophet's time in Madinah where such individuals posed political and religious threats to the nascent Muslim state.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of the hypocrite is like a sheep between two flocks; it goes to one, then to the other, unable to decide which to follow.' (Reported in various collections). Also relevant: 'Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whoever Allah misguides, none can guide.' (Surah Al-A'raf 7:178, echoed in hadith collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires wholehearted commitment and sincerity; half-hearted or duplicitous belief leaves one spiritually adrift and bereft of divine guidance. Believers should examine their hearts to ensure their Islam is based on genuine conviction rather than social convenience or hidden doubts.
Related Ayahs
لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ ۚ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَآئِفَةًۢ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
Make no excuse; you have disbelieved [i.e., rejected faith] after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَمَعَكُمْ ۚ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
And those who believe will say, "Are these the ones who swore by Allāh their strongest oaths that indeed they were with you?" Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.
أَمْ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ أَن لَّن يُخْرِجَ ٱللَّهُ أَضْغَـٰنَهُمْ
Or do those in whose hearts is disease think that Allāh would never expose their [feelings of] hatred?
وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allāh and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh - for them is a painful punishment.