سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 14
وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayâtîn (devils - polytheists, hypocrites), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
لَقُوا۟
laqū
they meet
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe[d]
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
they say
ءَامَنَّا
āmannā
We believe[d]
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
But when
خَلَوْا۟
khalaw
they are alone
إِلَىٰ
ilā
with
شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ
shayāṭīnihim
their evil ones
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
they say
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
مَعَكُمْ
maʿakum
(are) with you
إِنَّمَا
innamā
only
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
we
مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
mus'tahziūna
(are) mockers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 14) ➊ By "devils" are meant the leaders of disbelief, whether from the polytheists and Jews or from these hypocrites themselves. "Shaitan" refers to every rebellious and corrupt person. Devils are from both jinn and humans, as He said: « {وَ كَذٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيٰطِيْنَ الْاِنْسِ وَ الْجِنِّ يُوْحِيْ بَعْضُهُمْ اِلٰى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوْرًا} » [ الأنعام : ۱۱۲ ] "And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy—devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with decorative speech in delusion." The word "Shaitan" is derived from { ”شَطَنَ شُطُونًا“ }, which means "distance" (to be far), that is, one who is far from every good.
➋ {وَ اِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا:} This shows that their meeting with the believers is superficial, sometimes in a gathering, sometimes on the way, but with their devils, they have private and deliberate meetings. Then, without any word of emphasis, they simply say { ”اٰمَنَّا“ } to the believers, and to their devils, with the emphasis of { ”اِنَّا“ } and {”اِنَّمَا“}, they assure them of their disbelief, that in belief, without any doubt, we are your companions. As for our confession and expression of faith, that is merely a joke.
➋ {وَ اِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا:} This shows that their meeting with the believers is superficial, sometimes in a gathering, sometimes on the way, but with their devils, they have private and deliberate meetings. Then, without any word of emphasis, they simply say { ”اٰمَنَّا“ } to the believers, and to their devils, with the emphasis of { ”اِنَّا“ } and {”اِنَّمَا“}, they assure them of their disbelief, that in belief, without any doubt, we are your companions. As for our confession and expression of faith, that is merely a joke.
