Commentary on the Koran: Surah 63 (No. Q063)

Pickthall Translation; Bible Quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

Al-Munafiqun “The Hypocrites” takes its name from the word in the first verse. Verse 8 refers to a remark of Abdullah ibn Ubeyy, the “Hypocrite” leader. He expressed the desire that the old aristocracy at Yathrib, of which he was the acknowledged chief, might regain the ascendency and turn out the refugees from Becca whom he regarded as intruders. The date of the Surah is held to be the Fourth Year of the Hijrah or 625/6 CE

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63.1. When the hypocrites come unto thee (O Muhammad), they say: We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah's messenger. And Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the hypocrites indeed are speaking falsely.

By his words and deeds the populace becomes aware of the prophet sent among them but generally they do not want to do what he says. They would rather go along with the crowd in their community and do as they please as that would not hurt their pockets. They want to do the things of the flesh as their carnal minds are hostile to God.

Refer to Isaiah 8:20 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 36 (No. Q036) at ayat 21.

John 3:2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Luke 20:4-7 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” ⁵And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ ⁶But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” ⁷So they answered that they did not know where it came from.

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

Matthew 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 21:46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

John 5:37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

John 8:18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.

Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

Ezekiel 33:31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

63.2. They make their faith a pretext so that they may turn (men) from the way of Allah. Verily evil is that which they are wont to do,

Matthew 15:8-9 This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; ⁹in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Acts 20:30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Philippians 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

The people of Yathrib and at Becca were not converted and made a pretence of it until they could take over and suppress the faith once more.

63.3. That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed so that they understand not.

What little understanding was given to them was again taken away and they were blinded.

Refer to Ephesians 4:18 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 36 (No. Q036) at ayat 40.

Matthew 13:20-22 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

2Peter 2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

63.4. And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted!

See Isaiah 29:13 at ayat 63.1 and Matthew 15:8-9 at ayat 63.2 above.

Refer to Ephesians 4:18 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 36 (No. Q036) at ayat 40.

1Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

2Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.¹⁴And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

63.5. And when it is said unto them: Come! The messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you! they avert their faces and thou seest them turning away, disdainful.

63.6. Whether thou ask forgiveness for them or ask not forgiveness for them is all one for them; Allah will not forgive them. Lo! Allah guideth not the evil-living folk.

Romans 3:10-12 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; ¹¹no one understands; no one seeks for God. ¹²All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Without repentance there can be no forgiveness of sins. If they are not called they will not repent. They have a veil on their minds and hearts that will remain until the Second Resurrection when it will be lifted and they will be brought to right understanding.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

Romans 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

63.7. They it is who say: Spend not on behalf of those (who dwell) with Allah's messenger that they may disperse (and go away from you); when Allah's are the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the hypocrites comprehend not.

Refer to Nehemiah 9:6 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 36 (No. Q036) at ayat 81, and Acts 5:38-39 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 37 (No. Q037) at ayat 163.

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

Isaiah 44:18 They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

63.8. They say: Surely, if we return to Al-Madinah the mightier will soon drive out the weaker; when might belongeth to Allah and to His messenger and to the believers; but the hypocrites know not.

See Isaiah 44:18 at ayat 63.7 above and also refer to Isaiah 41:10 in Surah 57 in ayat 4.

Revelation 7:12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

63.9. O ye who believe! Let not your wealth nor your children distract you from remembrance of Allah. Those who do so, they are the losers.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

1Timothy 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Matthew 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

63.10. And spend of that wherewith We have provided you before death cometh unto one of you and he saith: My Lord! If only thou wouldst reprieve me for a little while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.

63.11. But Allah reprieveth no soul when its term cometh, and Allah is Informed of what ye do.

Refer to Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) for Hebrews 9:27 at ayat 8 and 2Corinthians 5:10 at ayat 36.

See also 2Corinthians 9:6-7 in Surah 57 at ayat 18 above.

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Proverbs 11:25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

So all are called in their proper time and the Hypocrites are blinded and sent to the Second Resurrection. So also are those who do not keep the Commandments of God and the Testimony of the Faith.

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