إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ قَدْ أَخَذْنَآ أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ 50
Translations
If good befalls you, it distresses them; but if disaster strikes you, they say, "We took our matter [in hand] before," and turn away while they are rejoicing.
Transliteration
In tusibka hasanah tas'uhum, wa in tusibka musibah yaqulū qad akhdharnā amranā min qablu wa yatawallau wa hum fariḥūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites' envious and malicious nature: when good befalls the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), they are grieved; when hardship strikes him, they rejoice and claim they had already taken precautions, turning away in delight at his misfortune. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this reflects the deep-seated enmity of the munāfiqūn (hypocrites) toward the Prophet and Islam, exposing their true character despite outward profession of faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's discourse on hypocrites during the Medinan period, particularly addressing those who showed disloyalty during military campaigns and times of trial. The context relates to the hypocrites' behavior toward the Prophet's military expeditions and the struggles of the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'The example of a believer is like a standing ear of grain—wind bends it but does not break it' (Sahih Bukhari). This contrasts with the hypocrite's instability shown in 9:50. Also relevant: 'The believer's shade on the Day of Judgment will be his charity' (Sahih Bukhari), emphasizing steadfast righteousness versus the hypocrite's inconsistency.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain steady commitment to truth regardless of circumstances, and warns against the spiritual disease of hypocrisy that celebrates others' misfortunes. In modern context, it calls us to examine our hearts for hidden resentment toward the righteous and to cultivate genuine compassion rather than concealed malice.
Related Ayahs
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?
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ كَرِهُوا۟ مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ سَنُطِيعُكُمْ فِى بَعْضِ ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِسْرَارَهُمْ
That is because they said to those who disliked what Allāh sent down, "We will obey you in part of the matter." And Allāh knows what they conceal.
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.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمْ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ وَإِن كَانَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَنَمْنَعْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا
Those who wait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allāh, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], "Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?" Allāh will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allāh give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them].