Al-Munafiqun


Al-Munāfiqūn is the 63rd chapter of the Qur'an, with 11 verses. Almost all of the chapter is preserved in the Ṣan‘ā’1 lower text.

Summary

The chapter 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. According to Muslim theologian, Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, the theme of Qur'an 63 is to inform the Muslims that the Hypocrites are absolute liars. Amin Ahsan Islahi elaborates that:

Asbāb al-nuzūl

Asbāb al-nuzūl is a secondary genre of Qur'anic exegesis directed at establishing the context in which specific verses of the Qur'an were revealed. Though of some use in reconstructing the Qur'an's historicity, asbāb is by nature an exegetical rather than a historiographical genre, and as such usually associates the verses it explicates with general situations rather than specific events. A hadith recorded by Muhammad al-Bukhari which narrates the occasion of revelation of this surah is as follows.
  • Narrated Zayd ibn Arqam: While I was with my uncle, I heard Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy saying, "Do not spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger, that they may disperse and go away. 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 called me and I told him about that. Then he sent for Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy and his companions, and they swore that they did not say so. The Prophet 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 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." So the Prophet sent for me and recited it and said, "Allah has confirmed your statement."

Hadith about Al-Munafiqun