Surah Al-Munafiqun

المنافقون

Surah Al-Munafiqun is a Medinan surah of 11 verses that describes the hypocrites of Medina and then asks believers not to let wealth and children distract them, and to give before death comes.

Meaning
The Hypocrites
Surah
63 of 114
Verses
11
Revealed in
Medina
Found in
Juz 28

What Surah Al-Munafiqun is about

Al-Munafiqun is the 63rd surah of the Quran, revealed in Medina, with 11 verses. Its name means The Hypocrites, the people it describes in most of its verses: those who professed Islam outwardly while working against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the believers.

Verses 1 to 4 begin with their words. They bear witness that he is Allah's Messenger, and Allah bears witness that their testimony is a lie, since they use their oaths as a cover. Verse 4 gives a sharp portrait: their appearance impresses and their speech draws attention, but they are like propped-up pieces of timber, and they think every shout is directed at them. Verses 5 and 6 describe them turning away in arrogance when invited to come and have the Prophet ﷺ seek forgiveness for them.

Verses 7 and 8 quote two things they said: that people should stop spending on the Prophet's companions so they would scatter, and that on returning to Medina the more powerful would drive out the weaker. The surah replies that the treasures of the heavens and earth belong to Allah, and that honor and power belong to Allah, His Messenger and the believers. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that the young companion Zayd ibn Arqam heard the second remark from Abdullah ibn Ubayy during a campaign, was not believed at first, and was confirmed when this surah came down.

The final three verses turn to the believers. Verse 9 warns against letting wealth and children distract from the remembrance of Allah. Verse 10 asks them to spend from what they have been given before death comes and a person pleads for a short delay so that he could give charity, and verse 11 says no soul is given more time once its term has come.

Main themes

  1. Words that do not match the heart

    The hypocrites say the right words about the Prophet ﷺ, and Allah testifies that they are lying. Their oaths are a shield that lets them turn others away from Allah's path.

    Verses 1–3
  2. Impressive outside, empty inside

    Verse 4 notes that their bodies and their speech impress people, yet they are like timber propped against a wall. Their constant suspicion that every cry is aimed at them reveals their insecurity.

    Verses 4–6
  3. Who honor belongs to

    The hypocrites plan to starve the believers of support and boast that the strong will expel the weak. The surah answers that provision is in Allah's hands and that true honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger and the believers.

    Verses 7–8
  4. Give before it is too late

    The closing verses address believers directly, warning against distraction by wealth and family. They picture a dying person asking for just a little more time to give charity, and say that time will not be granted.

    Verses 9–11

Verses to know

۞وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ تُعۡجِبُكَ أَجۡسَامُهُمۡۖ وَإِن يَقُولُواْ تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِهِمۡۖ كَأَنَّهُمۡ خُشُبࣱ مُّسَنَّدَةࣱۖ يَحۡسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيۡحَةٍ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ هُمُ ٱلۡعَدُوُّ فَٱحۡذَرۡهُمۡۚ قَٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ ﴿٤﴾

When you see them, their appearance impresses you. And when they speak, you listen to what they say. They are like propped-up timber. They think every shout is aimed at them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah condemns them; how deluded they are!
Al-Munafiqun 63:4

A precise description of hypocrisy: an impressive appearance and persuasive speech covering something hollow, together with constant fear of being found out.

يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعۡنَآ إِلَى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ لَيُخۡرِجَنَّ ٱلۡأَعَزُّ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡأَذَلَّۚ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿٨﴾

They say, “If we return to the City, the more powerful therein will evict the weak.” But power belongs to Allah, and His Messenger, and the believers; but the hypocrites do not know.
Al-Munafiqun 63:8

This verse answers the boast that the strong would drive out the weak by stating that power and honor belong to Allah, His Messenger and the believers. Its occasion is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

وَأَنفِقُواْ مِن مَّا رَزَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَآ أَخَّرۡتَنِيٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ قَرِيبٖ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٠﴾

And give from what We have provided for you, before death approaches one of you, and he says, “My Lord, if only You would delay me for a short while, so that I may be charitable, and be one of the righteous.”
Al-Munafiqun 63:10

A moving picture of regret at the moment of death, when a person wishes for a short delay only to give charity and be among the righteous.

When Surah Al-Munafiqun is recited

Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Al-Munafiqun in the second unit of the Friday prayer, after Surah Al-Jumu'ah in the first. Some imams still recite this pair in the Friday prayer.

Surah Al-Munafiqun in Arabic and English

All 11 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشۡهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

    Itha jaaka almunafiqoona qaloo nashhadu innaka larasoolu Allahi waAllahu yaAAlamu innaka larasooluhu waAllahu yashhadu inna almunafiqeena lakathiboona

    When the hypocrites come to you, they say, “We bear witness that you are Allah’s Messenger.” Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars.

  2. 2

    ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَيۡمَٰنَهُمۡ جُنَّةٗ فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّهُمۡ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

    Ittakhathoo aymanahum junnatan fasaddoo AAan sabeeli Allahi innahum saa ma kanoo yaAAmaloona

    They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from Allah’s path. Evil is what they do.

  3. 3

    ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ

    Thalika biannahum amanoo thumma kafaroo fatubiAAa AAala quloobihim fahum la yafqahoona

    That is because they believed, and then disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed, and they cannot understand.

  4. 4

    ۞وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ تُعۡجِبُكَ أَجۡسَامُهُمۡۖ وَإِن يَقُولُواْ تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِهِمۡۖ كَأَنَّهُمۡ خُشُبࣱ مُّسَنَّدَةࣱۖ يَحۡسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيۡحَةٍ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ هُمُ ٱلۡعَدُوُّ فَٱحۡذَرۡهُمۡۚ قَٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ

    Waitha raaytahum tuAAjibuka ajsamuhum wain yaqooloo tasmaAA liqawlihim kaannahum khushubun musannadatun yahsaboona kulla sayhatin AAalayhim humu alAAaduwwu faihtharhum qatalahumu Allahu anna yufakoona

    When you see them, their appearance impresses you. And when they speak, you listen to what they say. They are like propped-up timber. They think every shout is aimed at them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah condemns them; how deluded they are!

  5. 5

    وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ يَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ لَوَّوۡاْ رُءُوسَهُمۡ وَرَأَيۡتَهُمۡ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ

    Waitha qeela lahum taAAalaw yastaghfir lakum rasoolu Allahi lawwaw ruoosahum waraaytahum yasuddoona wahum mustakbiroona

    And when it is said to them, “Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you,” they bend their heads, and you see them turning away arrogantly.

  6. 6

    سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَسۡتَغۡفَرۡتَ لَهُمۡ أَمۡ لَمۡ تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ لَن يَغۡفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ

    Sawaon AAalayhim astaghfarta lahum am lam tastaghfir lahum lan yaghfira Allahu lahum inna Allaha la yahdee alqawma alfasiqeena

    It is the same for them, whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; Allah will not forgive them. Allah does not guide the sinful people.

  7. 7

    هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُواْ عَلَىٰ مَنۡ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّواْۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ

    Humu allatheena yaqooloona la tunfiqoo AAala man AAinda rasooli Allahi hatta yanfaddoo walillahi khazainu alssamawati waalardi walakinna almunafiqeena la yafqahoona

    It is they who say, “Do not spend anything on those who side with Allah’s Messenger, unless they have dispersed.” To Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.

  8. 8

    يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعۡنَآ إِلَى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ لَيُخۡرِجَنَّ ٱلۡأَعَزُّ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡأَذَلَّۚ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

    Yaqooloona lain rajaAAna ila almadeenati layukhrijanna alaAAazzu minha alathalla walillahi alAAizzatu walirasoolihi walilmumineena walakinna almunafiqeena la yaAAlamoona

    They say, “If we return to the City, the more powerful therein will evict the weak.” But power belongs to Allah, and His Messenger, and the believers; but the hypocrites do not know.

  9. 9

    يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ

    Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tulhikum amwalukum wala awladukum AAan thikri Allahi waman yafAAal thalika faolaika humu alkhasiroona

    O you who believe! Let neither your possessions nor your children distract you from the remembrance of Allah. Whoever does that—these are the losers.

  10. 10

    وَأَنفِقُواْ مِن مَّا رَزَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَآ أَخَّرۡتَنِيٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ قَرِيبٖ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

    Waanfiqoo min ma razaqnakum min qabli an yatiya ahadakumu almawtu fayaqoola rabbi lawla akhkhartanee ila ajalin qareebin faassaddaqa waakun mina alssaliheena

    And give from what We have provided for you, before death approaches one of you, and he says, “My Lord, if only You would delay me for a short while, so that I may be charitable, and be one of the righteous.”

  11. 11

    وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَاۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

    Walan yuakhkhira Allahu nafsan itha jaa ajaluha waAllahu khabeerun bima taAAmaloona

    But Allah will not delay a soul when its time has come. Allah is Informed of what you do.

Surah Al-Munafiqun PDF

The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.

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Questions about Surah Al-Munafiqun

How many verses are in Surah Al-Munafiqun?

Surah Al-Munafiqun has 11 verses. It is a Medinan surah and the 63rd in the Quran.

Why was Surah Munafiqun revealed?

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that Zayd ibn Arqam told the Prophet ﷺ that Abdullah ibn Ubayy had said the powerful would drive the weak out of Medina. Ibn Ubayy denied it, and this surah confirmed what Zayd had said.

Is Surah Munafiqun read in Jumuah prayer?

Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Jumu'ah in the first unit of the Friday prayer and Al-Munafiqun in the second.

What does Surah Munafiqun say about wealth and children?

Verse 9 warns believers not to let their wealth and children distract them from the remembrance of Allah, and verse 10 urges them to give before death arrives.