كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ 3
Translations
Greatly hateful in the sight of Allāh is that you say what you do not do.
Transliteration
Kabura maqtan inda Allahi an taqulu ma la tafʿalun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the grave sin of saying what one does not do—a form of hypocrisy and dishonesty deeply abhorrent to Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse rebukes those who command others to righteous deeds while failing to practice them themselves, and more broadly warns against any disconnect between one's words and actions. The phrase 'kabura maqtan' (it is greatly abhorred/hateful) underscores the severity of this contradiction in Allah's sight.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Saf, revealed in Medina, addresses the Muslim community's spiritual integrity and internal cohesion. This particular ayah comes in the context of exhorting believers to support the cause of Allah and maintain consistency between their faith and actions. The broader surah emphasizes the importance of sincere commitment to Islamic teachings without hypocrisy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worst people are those who speak but do not act according to their words' (related concept in Tirmidhi and other collections). Also relevant: 'Do you command people to piety while forgetting yourselves, even though you recite the Scripture?' (Quran 2:44), which carries a similar message about the hypocrisy of word-deed disparity.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must ensure consistency between what they profess and what they practice, recognizing that Allah abhors such hypocrisy and that true faith demands alignment of heart, word, and deed. This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that our credibility and spiritual standing depend on living according to our convictions, not merely speaking them.