NAME: المنافقون, Al-Munafiqun.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word “Munafiqun”. Name applied to whole Surah as in it is an account of behavior of hypocrites.
١ إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
1 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.
ENGLISH NAME: The Hypocrites.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 63
SURAH MUNAFIQUN TOTAL VERSES: 11
SURAH MUNAFIQUN TOTAL WORDS: 181
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 139
TOTAL LETTERS: 801
REVELATION PERIOD:
Medinan, Approx. 628 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Prophet Muhammad, Hypocrites.
SURAH MUNAFIQUN MAIN TOPICS:
Traits of Hypocrites, Even If Prophet Ask No Forgiveness For Them, Spend Before Your Death Approaches You.
SURAH MUNAFIQUN KEY VERSES:
١ إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
1 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.
٤ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ ۖ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُسَنَّدَةٌ ۖ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
4 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?
٦ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
6 It is all the same for them whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them; never will Allah forgive them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-4(Hypocrites Are Liars, Use Their Faith As A Shield, They Look Beautiful, Strong Body Good Speech Etc Verse4), 6(Hypocrites Are So Wrong That Even If Prophet Ask Forgiveness For Them They Will Not Be Forgiven), 7(They Induce People Not To Spend On Muhajirs/People With The Prophet), 8(They Say When We Reach Madina Mighty Will Drive Out The Meaner), 10(O People Spend Before Your Death Approaches You)
SURAH MUNAFIQUN BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 11 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 1: “…. إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ” ( When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say,…..) where the word “الْمُنَافِقُونَ” meaning “Hypocrites” appears. This is not only a name but also the topic of the Surah. This Surah was revealed in Madina most probably in 6-7 AH around 628 AD on Prophet Muhammad’s return from the campaign against Bani al- Mustaliq.
In the summary of Surah Hashr, its already discussed that what was the background of Yathrib/Madina before the advent of Prophet Muhammad. Aus and Khazraj managed to weaken the power of Jews in Yathrib. After that, they got control of the area, but they themselves kept fighting with each other. The Jewish tribe of Bani Qainuqa became an ally of Khazraj, and Bani Nadir and Bani Quraizaha came under the patron ship of Aus tribe. However, after centuries of mutual fights Aus and Khazraj became fed up of this, and at the time of Prophethood, they were actually negotiating each other for unity and even ready to make a mutual leader chief or king. At that time Abdullah bin Ubayy chief of the Khazraj was the best candidate, and it was almost agreed that he would become the king or chief of both tribes.
But then within months situation changed and more and more influential people of Madina started accepting Islam, and after the 2nd Oath or Allegiance at Aqabah, almost 75 noblemen of Madina accepted Muhammad as their leader and chief and invited him to Madina. Now anyone can see that how Abdullah bin Ubayy grief and jealousy would be that time. But Islam has entered in every house of Madina and he had no other way except to accept Islam and Muhammad as his leader. As already discussed in Surah Hashr what conspiracies Abdullah bin Ubayy planted during the battle of Uhad and before the exile of Bani Nadir. During Uhad although Muslims were facing an army of 3000 Meccans with only1000 men. But because of the conspiracies of Abdullah bin Ubayy 300 hypocrites left the Muslim army before even the battle started. Later when Muslims sent Bani Nadir an ultimatum to leave the city in 10 days. The hypocrite Abdullah bin Ubayy assured Bani Nadir not to leave as he would help them with 2000 men.
Now in Madina, everyone realized that he is a hypocrite, but Prophet didn’t take any action against him for a long time because of the fact that there were many supporters of Abdullah. The proof of which Prophet had already seen during the battle of Uhad when 300 people deserted the Muslim army. So despite fully aware of their hypocrisy Prophet kept on dealing with them as per their apparent faith. But now they have become so bold that during this battle campaign of Bani al- Mustaliq they managed to plant two great mischiefs one was the slander on Aaisha the wife of Prophet as discussed in background of Surah Nur and the other one also while returning from Bani Mustaliq campaign; the quarrel at the well of al Muraisi. This started on taking water from the well between Jehjah bin Masud Ghifari a servant of Umar bin Khattab and Sinan bin Wabar al-Juhani an ally of a clan of the Khazraj. But the quarrel had involved many men from Ansars and Muhajirs and hypocrites made every effort to add fuel to it. The quarrel might have led to a fight between the Ansars and the Muhajirin. However, the timely intervention of Prophet made the leading men of the two sides assembled and settled the dispute.
After this, in private all hypocrites gathered together and there Abdullah bin Ubayy said it was all your fault that you invited them and gave shelter to them. Not only this, you shared your properties with them. Now bear the consequences. Now they are becoming your rivals. By God, when we return to Madina, the honorable ones will drive the mean out from it. Holy Prophet came to hear about this saying and plans. He consulted with his companions upon which Umar bin Khattab said allow me to cut off his neck or order Ansars they will kill him. But the Prophet replied: “No, the people will say Muhammad kills his own Companions.” So these were the conditions when this Surah was revealed.
