المنافقون
Al Munafiqun
Verses
11
Revelation
Madani
Period
Madinan
Surah No.
63 / 114
Al-Munafiqun exposes the characteristics and speech of the hypocrites in Madinah, most notably their false oath-taking and their statement – attributed to Ibn Ubayy ibn Salul – that when they returned to Madinah, "the more honourable would expel the more humble," meaning the hypocrites would drive out the Muslims. The surah strips away the outward elegance of their speech to reveal hollow hearts, and concludes by urging the believers not to let wealth and children distract them from the remembrance of Allah.
أسباب النزول
Primarily revealed after the expedition of Banu Mustaliq (5 or 6 AH) during which Abdullah ibn Ubayy made his infamous statement disparaging the Muhajirun. His son – also named Abdullah – a sincere believer, came to the Prophet and offered to kill his own father to spare the Prophet the task. The Prophet declined. The surah confirmed the revelation of these hypocrites' words and reinforced the distinction between outward profession and inward reality.
“When the hypocrites come to you, they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah."”
The surah opens by immediately contrasting their verbal testimony with divine knowledge of their falseness – establishing that verbal profession without sincerity is meaningless before Allah.
“O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah.”
A universal warning addressed to all believers, not just hypocrites – the love of wealth and children can gradually displace divine remembrance, producing spiritual blindness without outright rejection of faith.