Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 188

That is, they boast about the deeds they have done, and regarding the deeds they have not done, they also wish that these be counted among their achievements. Never think about such people that they will escape Allah’s grasp and His punishment. This verse was actually revealed concerning the Jews and the hypocrites. Thus, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked the Jews about something, and they gave a wrong answer, then were pleased that they had satisfied the Prophet (peace be upon him), and now he should praise them. [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «لا تحسبن الذین یفرحون بما أتوا» : ۴۵۶۸ ]
Abu Sa‘id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) set out for battle, some hypocrites would not go with him and would be very pleased to remain sitting (in their homes) after his departure. Then, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) returned, they would present excuses and swear oaths, and would wish to be praised for the deed they had not done. Thus, regarding this, the following verse was revealed: «لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَفْرَحُوْنَ بِمَاۤ اَتَوْا وَّ يُحِبُّوْنَ اَنْ يُّحْمَدُوْا بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوْا» [بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «ولا تحسبن الذين يفرحون بما أتوا» : ۴۵۶۷ ] However, this ruling is general for the People of the Book and for Muslims; whoever is fond of flattery and has such a mindset that he wishes to be praised for achievements he has not accomplished, for him is the warning mentioned in this verse. (Shawkani)

188. 1. There is a severe warning for those people who are not only pleased with their actual achievements but also wish that those achievements which they have not accomplished be recorded or displayed in their account. This disease, just as it existed among some people during the time of the Messenger ﷺ, due to whom these verses were revealed, similarly exists today among fame-seeking people and leaders who are made through propaganda and other tactics. From the context of the verse, it is understood that the Jews were guilty of altering the Divine Book, yet they were pleased with their deeds. The same is the case with false groups; they too, after misleading people, providing wrong guidance, and making interpretative distortions and alterations in the Divine verses, are greatly pleased and claim that they are the people of truth and that their deceitfulness should be appreciated. (قٰتَلَهُمُ اللّٰهُ اَنّٰى يُؤْفَكُوْنَ 30؀) 9:30

Those who rejoice over what they have done, and love to be praised for what they did not do [188], do not think they will escape the punishment; for them is a painful punishment.

[188]
The Jews’ Desire to Be Praised for Deeds They Did Not Do:

Regarding the context of revelation of this verse, consider the following three hadiths, all of which are mentioned in Sahih Bukhari.

1. Ibn Abbasؓ says that the Prophet summoned the Jews and asked them about a matter of religion. They concealed the truth and told something false. Then they thought that they had done something great and were worthy of praise in the Prophet’s eyes, meaning they had informed him and also concealed the truth. Then he recited this verse. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]

2. Marwan sent his doorkeeper Rafi‘ to Abdullah ibn Abbasؓ to ask about the meaning of this verse, because according to this verse, every person would be deserving of punishment, since everyone is pleased with the blessings they receive or with what they do, and also wishes to be praised for deeds they have not done. So Rafi‘ came to Ibn Abbasؓ, and Ibn Abbasؓ said: “What concern do you Muslims have with this?” Then he recited the previous verse along with it and said that this is about those Jews whom the Prophet summoned and asked them about something, so they concealed the truth and told something false, then thought that they were worthy of praise in his eyes (i.e., they informed him and also concealed the truth). Then the Prophet recited this verse. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]

3. Abu Sa‘id Khudriؓ says that in the Prophet’s time there were some hypocrites who, when the Prophet went out for jihad, would stay behind and be pleased about it. Then when the Prophet returned, they would swear oaths and make all sorts of excuses, and they liked it when they were praised for deeds they had not done. This verse was revealed about them. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير] Among these, narrations 1 and 2 are from Ibn Abbasؓ and relate this verse to the Jews, while narration 3 is from Abu Sa‘id Khudriؓ and relates it to the hypocrites. In terms of the context, the first two narrations seem more likely, because the previous verses discuss the deeds of the Jews. However, in this subject, not only the hypocrites but even Muslims themselves can be included—meaning, whoever desires such fame that people say, “So-and-so is very sincere, honest, self-sacrificing, a servant of the people, and a scholar of religion,” or desires fame for any of these qualities, while in reality the matter is not so, or if someone has put in little effort in a good deed but desires much more fame and renown than is due, then his fate will be as mentioned in this verse.