لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَـًٔا أَوْ مَغَـٰرَٰتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ 57
Translations
If they could find a refuge or some caves or any place to enter [and hide], they would turn to it while they run heedlessly.
Transliteration
Law yajidoona maljaan aw magharatin aw muddalaan lawallaw ilayhi wa hum yajmahoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites' desperation to escape from Allah and His Messenger if they could find any refuge, cave, or passage to hide in, rushing headlong toward it without restraint. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this illustrates the extreme aversion and hatred hypocrites harbored toward the truth and the Islamic community, demonstrating that their outward compliance was merely superficial while their hearts remained in rebellion. The imagery of 'yamjahoon' (rushing wildly) emphasizes their uncontrolled desire to flee, revealing the depth of their internal corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's broader exposition of the hypocrites (munafiqun) of Madinah, particularly those who refused to join the expedition to Tabuk. The surah was revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah and extensively addresses the characteristics, deceptions, and ultimate fate of hypocrites who outwardly professed Islam while inwardly rejecting faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The example of a hypocrite is like a sheep between two flocks—he goes to one, then to the other' (Sahih Muslim 2784). This hadith complements the ayah's description of the hypocrite's wavering and desperate nature.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a reminder that attempting to flee from truth and divine guidance is futile and reflects a corrupted heart; believers should examine their intentions and sincerity, ensuring their faith is rooted in genuine conviction rather than mere external conformity.