سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 204
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ ﴿204﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), in this worldly life, and he calls Allâh to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمِنَ
wamina
And of
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
the people
مَن
man
(is the one) who
يُعْجِبُكَ
yuʿ'jibuka
pleases you
قَوْلُهُۥ
qawluhu
(with) his speech
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
وَيُشْهِدُ
wayush'hidu
and he calls to witness
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
مَا
mā
what
فِى
fī
(is) in
قَلْبِهِۦ
qalbihi
his heart
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and he
أَلَدُّ
aladdu
(is) the most quarrelsome
ٱلْخِصَامِ
l-khiṣāmi
(of) opponents
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 204 to 206) ➊ In the above verses, from {”وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ“} up to here, two types of people have been mentioned: those who seek the world, and those who seek both the world and the Hereafter. Now, from here, the characteristics of the hypocrites are described. In the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), there were some cunning people like this (and there have always been), and in these verses, their traits are described and instructions are given to remain alert from them. (Qurtubi, Fath al-Qadeer) Although in the commentaries the reason for the revelation of these verses is stated to be Akhnas bin Shurayq Thaqafi, in terms of wording, these include every person in whom these five traits are found. (Kabeer) Moreover, all the narrations in which it is mentioned that this verse was revealed about Akhnas are weak. (See al-Isti‘ab fi Bayan al-Asbab) Therefore, this verse is general.
➋ The first trait of such a hypocrite is that he possesses a lot of information related to worldly life; when he speaks on this subject, a person is left astonished. He neither speaks about the Hereafter nor has knowledge of it. (See al-Rum: 6, 7) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah hates every harsh-hearted, arrogant, miserly glutton who makes noise in the markets, is like a corpse at night and a donkey by day, is an expert in worldly matters, and ignorant of matters of the Hereafter." [ صحیح ابن حبان : ۱۹۵۷۔ السلسلۃ الصحیحۃ: ۱۹۵]
The second trait is that he swears by Allah repeatedly to assure others of his faith and sincerity, because he is well aware of his lack of credibility among the Muslims. (See the opening verses of Surah al-Munafiqun)
The third trait is that he is {”اَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ“}. {” اَلَدُّ “} means extremely quarrelsome. {” الْخِصَامِ“} is either a verbal noun from the form of "mufa‘alah," in which case it means he is extremely quarrelsome in disputes, or it is the plural of {”خَصْمٌ“} (one who quarrels), meaning he is among the most quarrelsome of the quarrelsome. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most quarrelsome (i.e., extremely quarrelsome)." [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «وہو ألد الخصام » : ۴۵۲۳۔ مسلم : ۲۶۶۸] And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned among the four signs of a hypocrite: "When he disputes, he behaves in an obscene manner." [ بخاری، الإیمان، باب علامۃ المنافق : ۳۴۔ مسلم : ۵۸ ]
The fourth trait is that when he turns away after swearing oaths of sincerity, he becomes engaged in destructive activities, causing corruption in the land and destroying crops and lives and property. {”تَوَلّٰى“} has one meaning as "he returns," and another meaning as "when he becomes a ruler or a person of authority."
The fifth trait is that when he is told to fear Allah, his (false) honor and pride keep him entangled in sin.
➋ The first trait of such a hypocrite is that he possesses a lot of information related to worldly life; when he speaks on this subject, a person is left astonished. He neither speaks about the Hereafter nor has knowledge of it. (See al-Rum: 6, 7) Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah hates every harsh-hearted, arrogant, miserly glutton who makes noise in the markets, is like a corpse at night and a donkey by day, is an expert in worldly matters, and ignorant of matters of the Hereafter." [ صحیح ابن حبان : ۱۹۵۷۔ السلسلۃ الصحیحۃ: ۱۹۵]
The second trait is that he swears by Allah repeatedly to assure others of his faith and sincerity, because he is well aware of his lack of credibility among the Muslims. (See the opening verses of Surah al-Munafiqun)
The third trait is that he is {”اَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ“}. {” اَلَدُّ “} means extremely quarrelsome. {” الْخِصَامِ“} is either a verbal noun from the form of "mufa‘alah," in which case it means he is extremely quarrelsome in disputes, or it is the plural of {”خَصْمٌ“} (one who quarrels), meaning he is among the most quarrelsome of the quarrelsome. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most quarrelsome (i.e., extremely quarrelsome)." [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «وہو ألد الخصام » : ۴۵۲۳۔ مسلم : ۲۶۶۸] And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned among the four signs of a hypocrite: "When he disputes, he behaves in an obscene manner." [ بخاری، الإیمان، باب علامۃ المنافق : ۳۴۔ مسلم : ۵۸ ]
The fourth trait is that when he turns away after swearing oaths of sincerity, he becomes engaged in destructive activities, causing corruption in the land and destroying crops and lives and property. {”تَوَلّٰى“} has one meaning as "he returns," and another meaning as "when he becomes a ruler or a person of authority."
The fifth trait is that when he is told to fear Allah, his (false) honor and pride keep him entangled in sin.
