The Holy Quran 3:167 — Surah Ali 'Imran

Arabic text

وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا۟ ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوِ ٱدْفَعُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًا لَّٱتَّبَعْنَـٰكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ

Translation

...and so that He may (make people) know who the hypocrites are. (Consequently, people knew who the hypocrites were when they deserted the Muslim army before the battle.) (The hypocrites are) Those to whom it was told (when they began leaving the Muslims army), "Come and fight in the way of Allaah or (a least) defend (yourselves and your city even as noncombatant members of the army) !" They replied, "If we knew (that) fighting (would be of any benefit against such odds), we would have definitely followed you." That day they (the hypocrites) were closer to kufr than they were to Imaan. They spoke with their tongues what was not in their hearts (they claimed to have Imaan when they did not). Allaah knows well what they conceal (in their hearts that the Muslims should be defeated).

Tafsir (excerpt) — التفسير الميسر

وليعلم المنافقين الذين كشف الله ما في قلوبهم حين قال المؤمنون لهم: تعالوا قاتلوا معنا في سبيل الله، أو كونوا عونًا لنا بتكثيركم سوادنا، فقالوا: لو نعلم أنكم تقاتلون أحدًا لكنا معكم عليهم، هم للكفر في هذا اليوم أقرب منهم للإيمان; لأنهم يقولون بأفواههم ما ليس في قلوبهم. والله أعلم بما يُخفون في صدورهم.

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