Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah is dedicated entirely to exposing the nature and threat of hypocrisy. Its core purpose is to warn the believers against internal division and treachery, specifically detailing the speeches, false oaths, and seditious plots of ʿAbd Allah ibn Ubayy. It concludes by urging the faithful to prioritize spending and remembrance before the arrival of death.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed following a specific seditious incident during the Battle of Banū al-Muṣṭaliq (around 5 AH), where the leader of the hypocrites, ʿAbd Allah ibn Ubayy, threatened to expel the Prophet (ﷺ) from Madinah. The surah confirms the truthfulness of the young companion Zayd ibn Arqam, who reported the plot, while exposing Ibn Ubayy's false oath [4].

Chronology: It is counted as the 102nd surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Ḥajj and before al-Taḥrīm.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is called "Sūrat al-Munāfiqūn" (The Hypocrites) for its singular focus on the description and characteristics of the hypocrites in Madinah.

Virtue: The Prophet (ﷺ) habitually recited this surah in the second unit of the Friday prayer after Sūrat al-Jumuʿah, intending to publicly warn and shame the hypocrites.

Ayah Count: 11 ayahs by unanimous agreement.

Surah Overview:

• Exposing the essential duplicity of the hypocrites: their false declaration of faith and the fact that their impressive physical appearance belies their spiritual corruption. [1-2]
• Detailing the hypocrites' false oaths and confirming the truthfulness of the young companion, Zayd ibn Arqam. [4]
• Revealing the hypocrites' plot and their treasonous declaration of who is honorable vs. the lowly in their estimation. [8]
• Warning the hypocrites against their attempts to undermine the Muslims' support. [7]
• Concluding with an exhortation to the believers to spend in Allah's way and remember Allah before it is too late. [9-11]