Surah Ali 'Imran 3:167
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ · Medinan · Verse 167 of 200
وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا۟ ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ قَٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوِ ٱدْفَعُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًۭا لَّٱتَّبَعْنَٰكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَٰنِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ
Translation
when it was said to them, ‘Come, fight for God’s cause, or at least defend yourselves,’ answered, ‘We would follow you if we knew there was going to be fighting.’ On that day they were closer to disbelief than belief. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts: God knows exactly what they conceal.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Qur'anic Worlds
This verse takes us back to a pivotal moment in the early Muslim community, the Battle of Uhud, a time of immense trial and divine sifting. It unveils the hidden realities of hearts, particularly those who outwardly appeared to be with the believers but harbored different intentions.
The Context of Treachery
The verse describes a specific incident from the World of Revelation, immediately before the Battle of Uhud. As the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, marched with his companions towards Uhud to meet the enemy, a group of about three hundred men, led by Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, turned back. Sayyid Qutb explains that Abdullah ibn Ubayy had been on the cusp of leadership in Medina before the Prophet's arrival and harbored deep resentment as Islam gained prominence. His desertion, in part, stemmed from this underlying envy and his disagreement with the Prophet's battle strategy.
The Call and the Deception
In this critical moment, sincere believers, like Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram, called out to these retreating men, saying, "تَعَالَوْا۟ قَٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوِ ٱدْفَعُوا۟" (Come, fight in the way of Allah or defend yourselves!). Scholars like al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir explain "defend yourselves" as either fighting for their families and honor, or simply increasing the Muslim numbers (كثروا سواد المسلمين), thereby deterring the enemy.
The hypocrites' reply, however, was a blatant evasion: "لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًۭا لَّٱتَّبَعْنَاكُمْ" (If we knew there would be a fight, we would follow you). As Sayyid Qutb notes, this was a lie, revealing their inner sickness of hypocrisy, a state where one says with their mouth what is not in their heart. They knew the enemy was determined for battle, but their words masked their true intention to abandon the Muslims.
A Divine Unveiling
Allah then reveals their true spiritual state: "هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ" (On that day, they were closer to disbelief than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts). Mufti Shafi notes that one of Allah's wise arrangements in such trials is to make evident the sincerity of the believers and the hypocrisy of the disbelievers. This moment clearly showed where their loyalties lay. Allah concludes by affirming His perfect knowledge: "وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ" (And Allah knows best what they conceal). This reminds us that while humans might be deceived by outward appearances, Allah knows the deepest secrets of every heart, and His judgment is based on that complete knowledge. This profound insight from the World of Revelation serves as a timeless lesson, unveiling the dangers of outward conformity without inner conviction.
Sources: Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ibn Kathir, al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ali 'Imran 3:167 is discussed in 13 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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