In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrites).
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
When the hypocrites come to you.
“When the hypocrites come unto thee (O Muhammad), they say: We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah's messenger. And Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the hypocrites indeed are speaking falsely.” (63:1)
“When the hypocrites come unto thee (O Muhammad), they say: We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah's messenger. And Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the hypocrites indeed are speaking falsely.” (63:1)
“When the hypocrites come unto thee (O Muhammad), they say: We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah's messenger. And Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the hypocrites indeed are speaking falsely.” (63:1)
When the hypocrites come to you, O Muhammad.
They say with their tongues, "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah."
“When the hypocrites come unto thee (O Muhammad), they say: We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah's messenger. And Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the hypocrites indeed are speaking falsely.” (63:1)
Whether the hypocrites say this or not.
Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars in their claims about themselves.
This is because they do not truly believe that, nor do they have faith in it.
Thus, they are liars in their report about themselves regarding this.
They have taken their oaths as a shield, so they obstruct others from the path of Allah.
Indeed, evil is what they have been doing.
The hypocrites have taken their oaths as a shield and a cover to hide behind.
Through these, they protect themselves, their offspring, and their wealth.
And they use them to ward off harm from themselves.
Thus, they have turned away from the religion of Allah, with which He sent His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
And from the law He prescribed for His creation.
Indeed, these hypocrites who have taken their oaths as a shield.
Evil is what they have been doing in this world by taking their oaths as a shield.
Due to their lying, hypocrisy, and other such matters.
“That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed so that they understand not.” (63:3)
Indeed, evil is what these hypocrites have been doing, those who took their oaths as a shield.
This is because they believed in Allah and His Messenger.
Then they disbelieved through their doubt and their denial of it.
So Allah has set a seal upon their hearts, blocking them from faith.
They cannot distinguish right from wrong, nor truth from falsehood.
Because Allah has sealed their hearts.
“And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted!” (63:4)
“And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted!” (63:4)
As if they were propped-up timber.
“And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted!” (63:4)
They are the enemy, so beware of them.
May Allah destroy them.
How are they deluded?
And when you see these hypocrites, O Muhammad.
Their bodies please you.
Because of their well-proportioned forms and handsome appearance.
And if they speak, you listen to their speech.
Their logic resembles the logic of people.
Yet these hypocrites are like propped-up timber.
They possess no goodness, no understanding, and no knowledge.
They are merely images without substance.
And phantoms without intellect.
These hypocrites think, due to their wickedness.
And their evil suspicion and lack of certainty.
That every shout is directed against them.
Because they are in constant fear that Allah might reveal something about them.
A matter that would tear away their veils and expose them.
And permit the believers to kill them.
And take their offspring captive and seize their wealth.
So, out of their fear of that.
Every time a revelation from Allah descends upon His Messenger.
They think it has come to bring about their destruction and ruin.
They are the enemy, O Muhammad, so beware of them.
For when they meet you, their tongues are with you.
But their hearts are against you, with your enemies.
They are spies for your enemies against you.
May Allah disgrace them.
How are they turned away from the truth?
“And when it is said unto them: Come! The messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you! they avert their faces and thou seest them turning away, disdainful.” (63:5)
The Messenger of Allah, they turn their heads away.
“And when it is said unto them: Come! The messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you! they avert their faces and thou seest them turning away, disdainful.” (63:5)
And when it is said to these hypocrites.
"Come, so the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness for you."
They shake their heads and mock.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
And his seeking of forgiveness.
And you see them turning away from what they were invited to.
While they are arrogant about coming.
To the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
So that he may ask forgiveness for them.
“Whether thou ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them is all one for them; Allah will not forgive them. Lo! Allah guideth not the evil-living folk.” (63:6)
“Whether thou ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them is all one for them; Allah will not forgive them. Lo! Allah guideth not the evil-living folk.” (63:6)
Allah will never forgive them.
“Whether thou ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them is all one for them; Allah will not forgive them. Lo! Allah guideth not the evil-living folk.” (63:6)
It is the same, O Muhammad, for these hypocrites who were told.
“And when it is said unto them: Come! The messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you! they avert their faces and thou seest them turning away, disdainful.” (63:5)
Whether you ask forgiveness for their sins or do not ask forgiveness for them.
Allah will never pardon their sins for them.
Rather, He will punish them for them.
Indeed, Allah does not guide to faith.
The people who lie against Him and disbelieve in Him.
Those who deviate from His obedience.
“They it is who say: Spend not on behalf of those (who dwell) with Allah's messenger that they may disperse (and go away from you); when Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites comprehend not.” (63:7)
Until they disperse.
“They it is who say: Spend not on behalf of those (who dwell) with Allah's messenger that they may disperse (and go away from you); when Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites comprehend not.” (63:7)
“They it is who say: Spend not on behalf of those (who dwell) with Allah's messenger that they may disperse (and go away from you); when Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites comprehend not.” (63:7)
They are the ones who say to their companions.
"Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah, from his companions, the Muhajirun."
"Until they disperse from him."
And to Allah belongs everything in the heavens and the earth.
And in His hand are the keys to the treasures of all that.
No one can give anyone anything except by His will.
“They it is who say: Spend not on behalf of those (who dwell) with Allah's messenger that they may disperse (and go away from you); when Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites comprehend not.” (63:7)
That is why they say.
“They it is who say: Spend not on behalf of those (who dwell) with Allah's messenger that they may disperse (and go away from you); when Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites comprehend not.” (63:7)
They say, "If we return to Medina."
“They say: Surely, if we return to Al-Madinah the mightier will soon drive out the weaker; when might belongeth to Allah and to His messenger and to the believers; but the hypocrites know not.” (63:8)
“They say: Surely, if we return to Al-Madinah the mightier will soon drive out the weaker; when might belongeth to Allah and to His messenger and to the believers; but the hypocrites know not.” (63:8)
“They say: Surely, if we return to Al-Madinah the mightier will soon drive out the weaker; when might belongeth to Allah and to His messenger and to the believers; but the hypocrites know not.” (63:8)
These hypocrites, whose characteristics were described earlier, say.
"If we return to Medina."
"The more honorable and powerful will surely drive out the more lowly from it."
But all honor and power belong to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers in Allah.
Yet the hypocrites do not know that.
“O ye who believe! Let not your wealth nor your children distract you from remembrance of Allah. Those who do so, they are the losers.” (63:9)
“O ye who believe! Let not your wealth nor your children distract you from remembrance of Allah. Those who do so, they are the losers.” (63:9)
“O ye who believe! Let not your wealth nor your children distract you from remembrance of Allah. Those who do so, they are the losers.” (63:9)
O you who have believed in Allah and His Messenger.
Let not your wealth or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah.
And whoever is diverted by his wealth and children from the remembrance of Allah.
Then it is they who are the losers of their share of the honor and mercy of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted.
And spend from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you.
“And spend of that wherewith We have provided you before death cometh unto one of you and he saith: My Lord! If only thou wouldst reprieve me for a little while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.” (63:10)
“And spend of that wherewith We have provided you before death cometh unto one of you and he saith: My Lord! If only thou wouldst reprieve me for a little while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.” (63:10)
“But Allah reprieveth no soul when its term cometh, and Allah is Informed of what ye do.” (63:11)
And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
And spend, O you who believe in Allah and His Messenger, from the wealth We have provided you.
“And spend of that wherewith We have provided you before death cometh unto one of you and he saith: My Lord! If only thou wouldst reprieve me for a little while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.” (63:10)
"My Lord, if only You would delay me for a short term."
"So I could give charity and be among the righteous and perform Your obligations."
But Allah will never delay a soul when its time has come.
Rather, He cuts it off.
And Allah is fully aware and knowledgeable of the deeds of His servants.
He encompasses all of them, and nothing is hidden from Him.
And He will recompense them for them: the doer of good for his good, and the evildoer for his evil.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.