Section 1: Verses 1–8
Thematic progression across verses 1–8
إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشۡهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَكَٰذِبُونَ 1
Izaa jaaa'akal munaafiqoona qaaloo nashhadu innaka la rasoolul laah; wallaahu ya'lamu innaka la rasooluhoo wallaahu yashhadu innal munaafiqeena lakaaziboon
When the hypocrites come to you, they say, “We bear witness that you are God’s Messenger.” God knows that you are His Messenger, and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars
ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَيۡمَٰنَهُمۡ جُنَّةࣰ فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُمۡ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ 2
Ittakhazoo aymaanahum junnatan fasaddoo 'an sabeelil laah; innahum saaa'a maa kaanoo ya'maloon
They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from God’s path. Evil is what they do
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ 3
Zaalika bi annahum aamanoo summa kafaroo fatubi'a 'alaa quloobihim fahum laa yafqahoon
That is because they believed, and then disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed, and they cannot understand
۞وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ تُعۡجِبُكَ أَجۡسَامُهُمۡۖ وَإِن يَقُولُواْ تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِهِمۡۖ كَأَنَّهُمۡ خُشُبࣱ مُّسَنَّدَةࣱۖ يَحۡسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيۡحَةٍ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ هُمُ ٱلۡعَدُوُّ فَٱحۡذَرۡهُمۡۚ قَٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ 4
Wa izaa ra aytahum tu'jibuka ajsaamuhum wa iny yaqooloo tasma' liqawlihim kaannahum khushubum musannadah; yahsaboona kulla saihatin 'alaihim; humul 'aduwwu fahzarhum; qaatalahumul laahu annaa yu'fakoon
When you see them, their appearance impresses you. And when they speak, you listen to what they say. They are like propped-up timber. They think every shout is aimed at them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. God condemns them; how deluded they are
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ يَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ لَوَّوۡاْ رُءُوسَهُمۡ وَرَأَيۡتَهُمۡ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ 5
Wa izaa qeela lahum ta'aalaw yastaghfir lakum rasoolul laahi lawwaw ru'oo sahum wa ra aytahum yasuddoona wa hum mustakbiroon
And when it is said to them, “Come, the Messenger of God will ask forgiveness for you,” they bend their heads, and you see them turning away arrogantly
سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَسۡتَغۡفَرۡتَ لَهُمۡ أَمۡ لَمۡ تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ لَن يَغۡفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ 6
Sawaaa'un 'alaihim as taghfarta lahum am lam tastaghfir lahum lany yaghfiral laahu lahum; innal laaha laa yahdil qawmal faasiqeen
It is the same for them, whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; God will not forgive them. God does not guide the sinful people
هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُواْ عَلَىٰ مَنۡ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّواْۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ 7
Humul lazeena yaqooloona laa tunfiqoo 'alaa man inda Rasoolil laahi hatta yanfaddoo; wa lillaahi khazaaa' inus samaawaati wal ardi wa laakinnal munaafiqeena la yafqahoon
It is they who say: “Do not spend anything on those who side with God’s Messenger, unless they have dispersed.” To God belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand
يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعۡنَآ إِلَى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ لَيُخۡرِجَنَّ ٱلۡأَعَزُّ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡأَذَلَّۚ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ 8
Yaqooloona la'ir raja'naaa ilal madeenati la yukhrijanal a'azzu minhal azall; wa lillaahil 'izzatu wa li Rasoolihee wa lilmu'mineena wa laakinnal munaafiqeena laa ya'lamoon
They say, “If we return to the City, the more powerful therein will evict the weak.” But power belongs to God, and His Messenger, and the believers; but the hypocrites do not know
Section 2: Verses 9–11
Thematic progression across verses 9–11
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ 9
Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo la tulhikum amwaalukum wa laa awlaadukum 'anzikril laah; wa mai-yaf'al zaalika fa-ulaaa'ika humul khaasiroon
O you who believe! Let neither your possessions nor your children distract you from the remembrance of God. Whoever does that—these are the losers
وَأَنفِقُواْ مِن مَّا رَزَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَآ أَخَّرۡتَنِيٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلࣲ قَرِيبࣲ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ 10
Wa anifqoo mim maa razaqnaakum min qabli any-yaatiya ahadakumul mawtu fa yaqoola rabbi law laaa akhkhartaneee ilaaa ajalin qareebin fa assaddaqa wa akum minassaaliheen
And give from what We have provided for you, before death approaches one of you, and he says, “My Lord, if only You would delay me for a short while, so that I may be charitable, and be one of the righteous.”
وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَاۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ 11
Wa lany yu 'akhkhiral laahu nafsan izaa jaaa'a ajaluhaa; wallaahu khabeerum bimaa ta'maloon
But God will not delay a soul when its time has come. God is Informed of what you do
Quran-Anchored Prophetic Context
Authentic narrations in the active corpus that explicitly cite, name, or explain verses in Surah Al-Munaafiqoon.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَجَاءٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي غَزَاةٍ فَسَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ، يَقُولُ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِهِ وَلَوْ رَجَعْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا. الأَذَلَّ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَمِّي أَوْ لِعُمَرَ فَذَكَرَهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَعَانِي فَحَدَّثْتُهُ فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَأَصْحَابِهِ فَحَلَفُوا مَا قَالُوا فَكَذَّبَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَصَدَّقَهُ فَأَصَابَنِي هَمٌّ لَمْ يُصِبْنِي مِثْلُهُ قَطُّ، فَجَلَسْتُ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ لِي عَمِّي مَا أَرَدْتَ إِلَى أَنْ كَذَّبَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَقَتَكَ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ} فَبَعَثَ إِلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَرَأَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ صَدَّقَكَ يَا زَيْدُ ".
While I was taking part in a Ghazwa. I heard `Abdullah bin Ubai (bin Abi Salul) saying. "Don't spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), that they may disperse and go away from him. If we return (to Medina), surely, the more honorable will expel the meaner amongst them." I reported that (saying) to my uncle or to `Umar who, in his turn, informed the Prophet (ﷺ) of it. The Prophet (ﷺ) called me and I narrated to him the whole story. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent for `Abdullah bin Ubai and his companions, and they took an oath that they did not say that. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) disbelieved my saying and believed his. I was distressed as I never was before. I stayed at home and my uncle said to me. "You just wanted Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to disbelieve your statement and hate you." So Allah revealed (the Sura beginning with) 'When the hypocrites come to you.' (63.1) The Prophet (ﷺ) then sent for me and recited it and said, "O Zaid! Allah confirmed your statement."
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ عَمِّي فَسَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ ابْنَ سَلُولَ يَقُولُ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْفَضُّوا. وَقَالَ أَيْضًا لَئِنْ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الأَذَلَّ. فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَمِّي فَذَكَرَ عَمِّي لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، فَحَلَفُوا مَا قَالُوا، فَصَدَّقَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَذَّبَنِي، فَأَصَابَنِي هَمٌّ لَمْ يُصِبْنِي مِثْلُهُ، فَجَلَسْتُ فِي بَيْتِي، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الأَذَلَّ} فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَىَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ صَدَّقَكَ ".
I was with my uncle and I heard `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, saying, "Don't spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that they may disperse and go away from him." He also said, "If we return to Medina, surely, the more honorable will expel the meaner." So I informed my uncle of that and then my uncle informed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) thereof. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent for `Abdullah bin Ubai and his companions. They swore that they did not say anything of that sort Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) deemed their statement true and rejected mine. Thereof I became as distressed as I have never been before, and stayed at home. Then Allah revealed (Surat Al-Munafiqin): 'When the hypocrites come to you.....(63.1) They are the ones who say: Spend nothing on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ..(63.7) Verily the more honorable will expel therefrom the meaner..' (63.7-8) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent for me and recited that Sura for me and said, "Allah has confirmed your statement."
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيَّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ أَرْقَمَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لَمَّا قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ. وَقَالَ أَيْضًا لَئِنْ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. أَخْبَرْتُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَمَنِي الأَنْصَارُ، وَحَلَفَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ مَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ، فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ فَنِمْتُ فَدَعَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ صَدَّقَكَ ". وَنَزَلَ {هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا} الآيَةَ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
When `Abdullah bin Ubai said, "Do not spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)," and also said, "If we return to Medina," I informed the Prophet (ﷺ) of his saying. The Ansar blamed me for that, and `Abdullah bin Ubai swore that he did not say. I returned to my house and slept. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then called me and I went to him. He said, "Allah has confirmed your statement." The Verse: "They are the one who say: Spend nothing......(63.7) was revealed.
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ عَمِّي فَسَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ ابْنَ سَلُولَ، يَقُولُ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْفَضُّوا، وَلَئِنْ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الأَذَلَّ. فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَمِّي، فَذَكَرَ عَمِّي لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم {فَدَعَانِي فَحَدَّثْتُهُ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَأَصْحَابِهِ فَحَلَفُوا مَا قَالُوا، وَكَذَّبَنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم} وَصَدَّقَهُمْ، فَأَصَابَنِي غَمٌّ لَمْ يُصِبْنِي مِثْلُهُ قَطُّ، فَجَلَسْتُ فِي بَيْتِي وَقَالَ عَمِّي مَا أَرَدْتَ إِلَى أَنْ كَذَّبَكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَقَتَكَ. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ} وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَرَأَهَا وَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ صَدَّقَكَ ".
While I was with my uncle, I heard `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul saying, "Do not spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), that they may disperse and go away (from him). And if we return to Medina, surely, the more honorable will expel therefrom the meaner. "I mentioned that to my uncle who, in turn, mentioned it to the Prophet. The Prophet (ﷺ) called me and I told him about that. Then he sent for `Abdullah bin Ubai and his companions, and they swore that they did not say so. The Prophet (ﷺ) disbelieved my statement and believed theirs. I was distressed as I have never been before, and I remained in my house. My uncle said to me, "You just wanted the Prophet (ﷺ) to consider you a liar and hate you." Then Allah revealed:-- 'When the hypocrites come to you, they say: 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Apostle of Allah." (63.1) So the Prophet (ﷺ) sent for me and recited it and said, "Allah has confirmed your statement."
وعن زيد بن أرقم رضي الله عنه قال: خرجنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر أصاب الناس فيه شدة، فقال عبد الله بن أبي: لا تنفقوا على من عند رسول الله حتى ينفضوا وقال: لئن رجعنا إلى المدينة ليخرجن الأعز منها الأذل فأتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأخبرته بذلك، فأرسل إلى عبد الله بن أبي ، فاجتهد يمينه: ما فعل، فقالوا: كذب زيد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فوقع في نفسي مما قالوا شدة حتى أنزل الله تعالى تصديقي {إذا جاءك المنافقون} ثم دعاهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ليستغفر لهم فلووا رءوسهم. ((متفق عليه)) .
We set out on a journey along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we faced many hardships. 'Abdullah bin Ubaiy (the chief of the hypocrites at Al- Madinah) said to his friends: "Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) until they desert him." He also said: "If we return to Al-Madinah, the more honourable (meaning himself, i.e., Abdullah bin Ubaiy) will drive out therefrom the meaner (meaning Messenger of Allah (ﷺ))." I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him about that and he sent someone to 'Abdullah bin Ubaiy. He asked him whether he had said that or not. Abdullah took an oath that he had not done anything of that sort and said that it was Zaid who carried a false tale to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Zaid said: I was so much perturbed because of this until this Verse was revealed verifying my statement:"When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad (ﷺ)), they say: 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed." (63:1) Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called the hypocrites in order to seek forgiveness for them from Allah, but they turned away their heads..