Sūrah 63
Sūrah al-Munāfiqūn
Introduction to this pair
Both these sūrahs form a pair with regard to their topics. In the first sūrah, Muslims are directed to be on guard against the hypocrites who were now becoming rebellious, and in the second against their family, which could become an impediment in the cause of truth. Moreover, in both sūrahs, Muslims are counselled to spend in the way of God by regarding the Hereafter to be the actual reality and to be prepared to offer any sacrifice to please God and the Prophet (sws).
Both sūrahs are primarily addressed to Muslims and it is evident from their topics that they were revealed in Madīnah in the tazkiyah and taṭhīr phase of Prophet Muḥammad’s (sws) preaching mission.
The theme of Sūrah al-Munāfiqūn is to inform the Muslims that the hypocrites are absolute liars. They must not be influenced by their talk and their style of swearing oaths on every statement because they want to stop Muslims from spending in the way of God and, in this manner, take them away from God and His Prophet (sws).
The theme of Sūrah al-Taghābun is to inform Muslims that their enemies can even be found in their own houses. Hence they should beware that the real thing is not these wives, children and family members. They want to implicate Muslims in various doubts about the Hereafter by striking fear in them about the problems of this world. The fact is that the Hereafter is the actual reality and the real day of winning or losing. If Muslims want to succeed in the Hereafter, they should get ready to offer sacrifice and become selfless to please God and His Prophet (sws). In this matter, they should disregard the reproaches of any reproacher and counsels of any counsellor.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.
When these Hypocrites come to you, they say: “We bear witness that you surely are God’s Messenger.” Indeed, God knows that you certainly are His Messenger, but God bears witness that these Hypocrites are absolute liars. They use their oaths as a shield and have withdrawn from the path of God. In reality, very evil is what they are doing. This is because they first embraced faith, then renounced it; so, their hearts were sealed. Thus they understand nothing.
And whenever you see them, their outward appearance pleases you, and if they speak, you listen to them in wonder. Their example is as if they are like beams of timber which [after being attired] are made to rest against a wall. They take every danger to be falling upon them. They are the enemies. So, guard yourself against them. May God destroy them! How they have lost their mind!
[So unfortunate are these people that] when they are told: “Come, God’s Messenger will seek forgiveness for you,” they turn their heads aside, and you see them showing aversion in arrogance. It is equal for them whether you seek forgiveness for them or not, God shall never forgive them because God never guides such disobedient people.
It is they who say: “Do not spend on the followers of God’s Messenger gathered around him so that they disperse,” and in reality to God belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but these Hypocrites do not understand. They say: “If we return to Madīnah, the powerful will drive out these lowly from there,” even though power and dominance in fact belong to God, to His Messenger and to those who believe in them, but these Hypocrites do not know.
Believers! [Like these Hypocrites,] let neither your riches nor your children make you indifferent to remembering God, and [remember that] those who do this, it is they who will be the losers. Spend [for the cause of God] from what We have blessed you before death befalls any of you, then he [longingly] says: “Lord! Why did you not give me some more respite that I would have spent for Your cause and if I had done so, today I would have been among the righteous?” Even though God will never give respite to a soul when its appointed time arrives, and whatever you do is fully in God’s knowledge.