Overview - Surah 63: al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrites )
The Surah deals with the phenomenon of hypocrisy. It criticizes hypocrisy and condemns the hypocrites. It also exhorts the Believers to be sincere in their faith and make charity.
This Surah takes its name after the first Ayat of the Surah, إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّـهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَاللَّـهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ "When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars." [63:1].
There are 11 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 11 |
| Total Words * | 180 |
| Root Words * | 78 |
| Unique Root Words * | 2 |
| Makki / Madani | Madani |
| Chronological Order* | 104th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 19th year of Prophethood (6th Year Hijri) |
| Events during/before this Surah*
Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers, Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah, , Battle of Uhud, Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr, Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah, , 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
No Prophets names are mentioned in this Surah
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| Surah Index
Charity, Children, Death, Hypocrites, Materialism, Medinah, Resurrection (of humans) , Resurrection (of soul)
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Theme 1: Warning about the Hypocrites
The theme of this Surah is invitation to the faith and obedience (to God) and the teaching of good morals. The sequence followed is that the first four verses are addressed to all people; verses 5-10 to those who do not believe in the invitation of the Qur’an; and verses 11-18 to those who accept and believe in this invitation.
The whole surah deals with the issues related to the Munafiqeen [hypocrites].
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
14th Century AH
14th Century AH
1250-1517 CE
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
- There is a connection between the beginning of Surah as-Saff [61], al-Jum'uah [62] and al-Munafiqun [63]. In Surah as-Saff, Allah speaks of those who say that which they do not do. In the following Surah, this concept is mentioned again in the example of Jewish scholars who are like donkeys contradicting and not benefiting from the knowledge they are carrying. Then this is again followed by the next Surah, which begins with the statements of the Hypocrites who are saying they testify to the truth, whereas in reality they are liars. All three being examples of contradictions between word and deed.
- In Ayat 9 and 10 of both Surah al-Jumu'ah [62] and al-Munafiqun [63] - we are told not be distracted from the Dhikr [remembrance] of Allah by wealth.
- There is an advice in both Surah al-Munafiqun [63] and at-Taghabun [64] to the believers with respect to their children
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ "O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers." [63:9]
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ "O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [64:14]
- The Prophet would recite this Surah in the prayer of Jumuah. Ibn Abbas reports that, وَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ سُورَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ "....He used to recite in Jumu'a prayer Surahs Jumu'a and al-Munafiqin." Sahih Muslim
(63:4) is the longest Ayat of this Surah with 22 words. It also has two words unique in the Qur'an - خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ wood propped up.
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ ۖ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ ۖ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّـهُ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ "And when you see them, their forms please you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. [They are] as if they were pieces of wood propped up - they think that every shout is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?" (63:4)
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) * | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | أ ل ه | 14 | 2851 |
| 2. | ق و ل | 7 | 1722 |
| 3. | ن ف ق | 6 | 111 |
| 4. | ر س ل | 5 | 513 |
| 5. | إِذَا | 4 | 409 |
| 6. | غ ف ر | 4 | 234 |
| 7. | أ م ن | 3 | 879 |
| 8. | ج ي أ | 2 | 278 |
| 9. | ش ه د | 2 | 160 |
| 10. | ع ل م | 2 | 854 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| أ ل ه | 14 | 2851 |
| ق و ل | 7 | 1722 |
| ن ف ق | 6 | 111 |
| ر س ل | 5 | 513 |
| إِذَا | 4 | 409 |
| غ ف ر | 4 | 234 |
| أ م ن | 3 | 879 |
| ج ي أ | 2 | 278 |
| ش ه د | 2 | 160 |
| ع ل م | 2 | 854 |
- Hypocrisy is such a sin against Islam and Muslims that even the Rasool's prayer cannot obtain forgiveness for them from Allah.
- Let not your riches or children divert you from the remembrance of Allah, lest you become a real loser.يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ "O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers." (63:9)
- Dhikr is a means free oneself from hypocrisy.
Tafsir Zone
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Overview (Verses 1 -4 ) The surah begins with a description of the hypocrites' attempt to disguise the truth of their unbelief. They declare themselves Muslim and testify that the Prophet is God's Messenger. They swear by God so as to convince the Muslims, while they themselves know that they are lying. Their oaths are merely a shield behind which they hope to hide their true reality and deceive the Muslims: When the hypocrites come to you, they say We bear witness that you are indeed God's Messenger.' God knows that you are truly His Messenger and He bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars. They use their oaths as a cover [for their falseness], and they turn people away from the path of God. Evil indeed is what they do. (Verses 1-2) They would go to the Prophet and state that they bore witness that he was God's Messenger, but theirs was only a verbal testimony lacking all conviction. They were merely engaging in deception, hoping to hide their truth from the Muslim community and so protect themselves. Therefore, God states that they were lying while making clear the truth of His message to the Prophet Muhammad: "God knows that you are truly His Messenger and He bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars." (Verse 1) "They use their oaths as a cover." (Verse 2) This short statement suggests that they used to swear an oath every time they feared exposure, or whenever one of their schemes was uncovered, or some of what they said about Muslims was reported. They hoped that such oaths would protect them from the consequences of their exposure. Thus they used their false faith as a shield to hide their reality and allow them a chance to go on with their plots and schemes against the Muslim community. Thus, "they turn people away from the path of God." They kept themselves and others away from God's path, using their false oaths for that end. "Evil indeed is what they do." (Verse 2) Could there be anything worse than lying to mislead and deceive others? The surah explains the reasons behind their behaviour, making it clear that they knowingly reverted to disbelief after having accepted Islam: "That is because they professed to believe, then they renounced faith. So, a seal has been set on their hearts and therefore they are devoid of understanding." (Verse 3) Thus, whilst they have known what it means to accept faith, they nonetheless chose to revert to disbelief. No heart that has a sound understanding or appreciation of things, or indeed has life, would experience life under faith and then choose to return to disbelief. How can anyone who understands, appreciates and experiences the concept of life that faith promotes, with its view of the universe, and also breathes the fresh air of faith and lets the light of faith shine over his world wish to revert to the miserable and suffocating darkness of unfaith? None will make such a choice except he who is filled with grudges that blind his sight and blunt his senses. Hence, such people are in the miserable condition the verse describes: "So, a seal has been set on their hearts and therefore they are devoid of understanding." (Verse 3) When you see them, their outward appearance may please you; and when they speak, you listen to what they say. They are like propped-up timbers. They think that every shout is directed against them. They are the real enemy; so beware of them. May God destroy them! How perverse they are! (Verse 4) Thus, they are merely an outward appearance, not real human beings who respond and interact. They may look pleasant to the eye as long as they remain silent, but when they speak they show themselves to be devoid of sense and feeling. They are like timbers, but not just any kind of wood: they are propped up against a wall, unable to move. This stone-cold picture shows the reaction of their souls, that is if they have souls at all. This is then complemented with a state of constant apprehension, perpetual fear and uncertainty: "They think that every shout is directed against them." (Verse 4) They know themselves to be hypocrites, covered by a thin veil of pretence, false oaths and attempts to appease. Hence, they live under the constant dread that their reality will be exposed. The surah shows them always turning around, dreading every move and every shout. They imagine that every cry is setting a chase after them. Thus, spiritually, they are like propped up pieces of wood, but when it is a question of fear for one's life or property, they look like a trembling reed in a storm. In both cases, they are the main enemy of the Prophet and the Muslim community: "They are the real enemy; so beware of them." They are the enemy within, hiding within Muslim ranks. Hence, they represent a greater danger than the external enemy. Therefore, the Prophet is instructed to beware of them. He is not, however, instructed here to kill them. Instead, he was to pursue a different course of action, one that reflected much wisdom and confidence that their schemes would come to nothing. "May God destroy them! How perverse they are!" (Verse 4) God will indeed be their enemy wherever they turn. Such a prayer by God Almighty means a verdict that is certain to take place. It is their inevitable outcome, as history has clearly shown. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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Overview (Verses 1 -4 ) The surah begins with a description of the hypocrites' attempt to disguise the truth of their unbelief. They declare themselves Muslim and testify that the Prophet is God's Messenger. They swear by God so as to convince the Muslims, while they themselves know that they are lying. Their oaths are merely a shield behind which they hope to hide their true reality and deceive the Muslims: When the hypocrites come to you, they say We bear witness that you are indeed God's Messenger.' God knows that you are truly His Messenger and He bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars. They use their oaths as a cover [for their falseness], and they turn people away from the path of God. Evil indeed is what they do. (Verses 1-2) They would go to the Prophet and state that they bore witness that he was God's Messenger, but theirs was only a verbal testimony lacking all conviction. They were merely engaging in deception, hoping to hide their truth from the Muslim community and so protect themselves. Therefore, God states that they were lying while making clear the truth of His message to the Prophet Muhammad: "God knows that you are truly His Messenger and He bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars." (Verse 1) "They use their oaths as a cover." (Verse 2) This short statement suggests that they used to swear an oath every time they feared exposure, or whenever one of their schemes was uncovered, or some of what they said about Muslims was reported. They hoped that such oaths would protect them from the consequences of their exposure. Thus they used their false faith as a shield to hide their reality and allow them a chance to go on with their plots and schemes against the Muslim community. Thus, "they turn people away from the path of God." They kept themselves and others away from God's path, using their false oaths for that end. "Evil indeed is what they do." (Verse 2) Could there be anything worse than lying to mislead and deceive others? The surah explains the reasons behind their behaviour, making it clear that they knowingly reverted to disbelief after having accepted Islam: "That is because they professed to believe, then they renounced faith. So, a seal has been set on their hearts and therefore they are devoid of understanding." (Verse 3) Thus, whilst they have known what it means to accept faith, they nonetheless chose to revert to disbelief. No heart that has a sound understanding or appreciation of things, or indeed has life, would experience life under faith and then choose to return to disbelief. How can anyone who understands, appreciates and experiences the concept of life that faith promotes, with its view of the universe, and also breathes the fresh air of faith and lets the light of faith shine over his world wish to revert to the miserable and suffocating darkness of unfaith? None will make such a choice except he who is filled with grudges that blind his sight and blunt his senses. Hence, such people are in the miserable condition the verse describes: "So, a seal has been set on their hearts and therefore they are devoid of understanding." (Verse 3) When you see them, their outward appearance may please you; and when they speak, you listen to what they say. They are like propped-up timbers. They think that every shout is directed against them. They are the real enemy; so beware of them. May God destroy them! How perverse they are! (Verse 4) Thus, they are merely an outward appearance, not real human beings who respond and interact. They may look pleasant to the eye as long as they remain silent, but when they speak they show themselves to be devoid of sense and feeling. They are like timbers, but not just any kind of wood: they are propped up against a wall, unable to move. This stone-cold picture shows the reaction of their souls, that is if they have souls at all. This is then complemented with a state of constant apprehension, perpetual fear and uncertainty: "They think that every shout is directed against them." (Verse 4) They know themselves to be hypocrites, covered by a thin veil of pretence, false oaths and attempts to appease. Hence, they live under the constant dread that their reality will be exposed. The surah shows them always turning around, dreading every move and every shout. They imagine that every cry is setting a chase after them. Thus, spiritually, they are like propped up pieces of wood, but when it is a question of fear for one's life or property, they look like a trembling reed in a storm. In both cases, they are the main enemy of the Prophet and the Muslim community: "They are the real enemy; so beware of them." They are the enemy within, hiding within Muslim ranks. Hence, they represent a greater danger than the external enemy. Therefore, the Prophet is instructed to beware of them. He is not, however, instructed here to kill them. Instead, he was to pursue a different course of action, one that reflected much wisdom and confidence that their schemes would come to nothing. "May God destroy them! How perverse they are!" (Verse 4) God will indeed be their enemy wherever they turn. Such a prayer by God Almighty means a verdict that is certain to take place. It is their inevitable outcome, as history has clearly shown. |
- Surah 63. Al-Munafiqun - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm3_A4Ap5tY&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=63
- Surah 63. Al-Munafiqun Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYjnlTSrqGo&index=63&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM
- Surah 63. Al-Munafiqun Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHfZC8xBYTw&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe&index=63
- Surah 63. Al-Munafiqun Muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFGmzyfcX9c&index=63&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-Munafiqun to Surah Al Haqqah1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtmdDq1wJyQ&index=103&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Surah Al-Munafiqun to Surah Al Haqqah2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v70lKTopmXE&index=104&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
