Translation
There are people who harass the Prophet and say: “He listens to everyone,” whereas he hears all that is good for you. He believes in God, he believes the faithful and he is a mercy to those who are faithful amongst you. Those who malign the prophet of God, there will be adverse consequences for them. They swear by God to make a positive impression to you whereas God and His Messenger are asking that you please God if you truly believe. These people should be aware that anyone who opposes God and His Messenger (acts against truth and justice) will face its consequence [the fire of Hell]—this is a grave disgrace! 435
These hypocrites are constantly in fear that a revelation will come which will expose what is in their minds. Say: “Go on mocking (if you will); God will bring to light what you wish to hide.” If you ask them, they will make excuse: “We were only sporting and engaged in idle talk.” Say: “Was it God, His messages and His Messenger that you were making fun of? Make no excuse as you have gone back to denial of God after affirming your faith. Even if We [God] forgive a group of you (seeking genuine forgiveness), another group will face the consequence since they are consumed in evil.
Hypocritical men and hypocritical women are all alike—they engage in evil, hinder people from good and offer no charity. They have abandoned God (and His guidance); likewise God had abandoned them. These hypocrites have transgressed (too far). God’s disposition with respect to those who are hypocrites and disbelievers is the evil consequence of their hypocrisy—fire of Hell and God’s displeasure, a consequence with lasting impact! 436
Interpretation
435 For some early believers whose faith was failing them, they demonstrated in many ways their lack of faith in God and in the prophets by refusing to participate in giving charity, not joining in the fight against common enemies, actively colluding with adversaries and disbelievers, and maligning the Prophet and his followers at every opportunity they got. These were some of the hallmarks of hypocrisy. Such hypocrisy was becoming more intense as the success of the Prophet and his followers was becoming more evident. In Chapter 2, verses 2:8–16 (see Volume 1), we see similar evidence documented in the Qur’an about such hypocritical people that is very relevant for our time in the twenty-first century.
436 Hypocritical people and disbelievers who actively opposed truth and justice—as evident from their constant immersions in evils, refusing to help others in need, and actively hindering people from doing good—are enough reason for God and his Prophet to be displeased with them. Even then, God leaves open the door of forgiveness for those who seek genuine forgiveness and show genuine remorse, but for others the consequence of their hypocrisy and lack of belief is grave and will impact greater part of their lives in this world and certainly in the afterlife. These are part of the natural laws that God had laid out for humanity, from which none can escape. The consequences of these laws will show up sooner or later and will impact not only the evildoers but also the bystanders who did not nothing to intervene and contain such evils.
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REFLECTION
Being deceptive, showing hypocrisy, and conspiring behind people’s backs, especially against goodness and good people, are considered crimes that deserve attention in society and in our social conduct between individuals, groups, and nations. Lack of trust and respect for each other, the preference for evil against good, and disbelief in God are becoming more prevalent in our world today.
ACTION
The Qur’an asks repeatedly what excuses we have when confronted with evils and hypocrisy in our society when we do not rise up and actively engage to eliminate such evils and restore faith, goodness, human dignity, and human freedom wherever we are and whatever generation we are part of. It cannot be blamed on previous generations, nor can it be left for the next generations to deal with. Each one of us is responsible for our own actions or lack thereof, and so is every generation in every community and in every nation.