وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ 226
Translations
And that they say what they do not do? -
Transliteration
Wa-annahum yaqooloon ma la yaf'aloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the poets who speak eloquent words that they do not act upon or believe in themselves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this describes those whose speech is disconnected from their deeds—they may compose beautiful verses about virtues, guidance, or noble qualities without embodying these values in their lives. This ayah emphasizes the hypocrisy of claiming what one does not practice, highlighting the Islamic principle that words must be aligned with actions.
Revelation Context
This verse appears within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which addresses the status of poets in relation to the Quran and divine revelation. The broader context of verses 224-227 discusses how poets often follow desires and speak falsehoods, contrasting them with believers whose words align with righteous deeds. The surah was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam when poets were prominent figures in Arabian society.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The worst of people are those whose words do not match their deeds' (a thematic principle found in various hadith collections). Related to Sahih Muslim's hadith about the signs of a hypocrite: 'When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays the trust.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that true integrity requires alignment between what we say and what we do—our claims must be reflected in our actions. It serves as a reminder that eloquent speech without sincere deeds is spiritually empty and that believers should strive to be people of both word and action.