يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ لِيُرْضُوكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَحَقُّ أَن يُرْضُوهُ إِن كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ 62
Translations
They swear by Allāh to you [Muslims] to satisfy you. But Allāh and His Messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they were to be believers.
Transliteration
Yahlifūna billāhi lakum liyurḍūkum wallāhu wa rasūluhū aḥaqqu an yurḍūhu in kānū mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah reproves the hypocrites who swear oaths by Allah to please the Muslims, while their primary concern should be pleasing Allah and His Messenger. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that true faith requires prioritizing the pleasure of Allah and the Messenger over worldly approval or social standing. The conditional phrase 'if they were believers' underscores that genuine faith necessitates this proper ordering of loyalties.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah At-Tawbah's broader treatment of the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who inhabited Madinah. It addresses the specific behavior of those who made false oaths to gain the trust of the Muslim community while harboring doubt and disloyalty. The context involves the military campaigns and the exposed character of those whose faith was superficial.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of sincere intention: Sahih Bukhari (1:1) - 'Actions are by intentions, and every person will have what they intended.' Also relevant: Sunan Ibn Majah - Hadith on avoiding hypocrisy and ensuring one's deeds are for Allah's pleasure alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must examine their intentions and ensure they seek Allah's and the Messenger's pleasure above all else, rather than chasing social approval or worldly recognition. This ayah teaches that authentic faith is demonstrated through our priorities and loyalties, not merely through outward gestures or convenient oaths.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ فَقَـٰتِلُوٓا۟ أَئِمَّةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَآ أَيْمَـٰنَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ
And if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then combat the leaders of disbelief, for indeed, there are no oaths [sacred] to them; [fight them that] they might cease.
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَـٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٍ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَـٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ فَٱنْهَارَ بِهِۦ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Then is one who laid the foundation of his building on righteousness [with fear] from Allāh and [seeking] His approval better or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed with him into the fire of Hell? And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing.