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
إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا۟ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allāh is over all things competent.
وَءَاخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And [there are] others deferred until the command of Allāh - whether He will punish them or whether He will forgive them. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ ٱلْحَقِّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ
Fight against those who do not believe in Allāh or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allāh and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
قُلْ أَنفِقُوا۟ طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
Say, "Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people."