Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:1
سُورَةُ المُنَافِقُونَ · Medinan · Verse 1 of 11
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَكَٰذِبُونَ
Translation
When the hypocrites come to you [Prophet], they say, ‘We bear witness that you are the Messenger of God.’ God knows that you truly are His Messenger and He bears witness that the hypocrites are liars––
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This profound opening verse of Surah al-Munafiqoon introduces us to a distinct group: the hypocrites. It invites us to ponder the very nature of truth, belief, and deception through its precise choice of words.
The Hypocrites' Declaration
When the hypocrites, a group that outwardly professed faith while secretly harboring disbelief, came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), they declared, "نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ" (nashhadu innaka laRasool Allah) – "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." The Arabic word "nashhadu," meaning "we bear witness," is significant. As Ibn Ashur notes, "shahadah" (bearing witness) implies stating something with absolute certainty, like having seen it directly. The hypocrites chose this strong, emphatic word, also reinforced by the particle "إنَّ" (inna) and the "ل" (laam) of emphasis, making their declaration sound undeniably true and sincere to human ears.
Allah's Certainty and a Crucial Clarification
Immediately following their declaration, Allah interjects with His own statement: "وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ" (Wallahu ya'lamu innaka larasooluh) – "And Allah *knows* that you are indeed His Messenger." This parenthetical phrase, as both al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur explain, serves a vital purpose. If Allah had immediately said the hypocrites were liars after their statement, one might mistakenly think that the claim of the Prophet's messengership itself was being denied. This interjection swiftly clarifies that Allah *confirms* beyond any doubt that Prophet Muhammad is His true Messenger. There is no ambiguity about the Prophet's status.
The True Nature of Their Lie
Then comes Allah's definitive pronouncement: "وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ" (Wallahu yashhadu innal-munafiqīna lakādhibūn) – "And Allah *bears witness* that the hypocrites are most certainly liars." Here, Allah uses "يَشْهَدُ" (yashhadu – bears witness), mirroring the hypocrites' own word "nashhadu." This rhetorical matching, noted by Ibn Ashur, powerfully refutes their false claim with a truthful one from the Almighty. The lie is not in the truth of the Prophet's mission, but in the hypocrites' assertion that their hearts aligned with their tongues. As Ibn Ashur clarifies, the lie (كَذِب) here means their spoken words contradict their inner belief. They claimed to *bear witness* to faith, implying inner certainty, but their hearts were devoid of it. The added "ل" (laam) of emphasis in "لكاذبون" underscores the absolute certainty of their profound deception. This subtle yet powerful linguistic architecture reveals the depth of their inner falsehood and Allah's absolute knowledge.
Sources: al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:1 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:1 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.