سُوْرَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 30
وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَأَرَيْنَـٰكَهُمْ فَلَعَرَفْتَهُم بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ ۚ وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ فِى لَحْنِ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ ﴿30﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Had We willed, We could have shown them to you, and you should have known them by their marks; but surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech! And Allâh knows (all) your deeds.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
نَشَآءُ
nashāu
We willed
لَأَرَيْنَـٰكَهُمْ
la-araynākahum
surely, We could show them to you
فَلَعَرَفْتَهُم
falaʿaraftahum
and you would know them
بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ ۚ
bisīmāhum
by their marks
وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ
walataʿrifannahum
but surely, you will know them
فِى
fī
by
لَحْنِ
laḥni
(the) tone
ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ
l-qawli
(of their) speech
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
knows
أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ
aʿmālakum
your deeds
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And if We willed, We could show them to you, and you would surely recognize them by their faces. Yet you will surely recognize them by the tone of their speech [34], and Allah knows well all your deeds.
[34]
Exposing the Hypocrites Publicly is Against Allah’s Wisdom:
That is, to expose such hypocrites publicly is also against Allah’s wisdom. Otherwise, We would have told you everything, by which other Muslims would have known exactly which hypocrites have infiltrated among them.
Hypocrites Can Be Recognized by the Light of Insight:
However, We have certainly granted you such a light of insight that you can recognize them by their tone and manner of speech, that such and such a person is a hypocrite. The reason for this is that in the conversation of a straightforward and sincere true believer, there is a maturity and seriousness that cannot be found in the manner of speech of a person who harbors malice in his heart. Thus, by this very light of insight, you knew all the hypocrites by name in the last part of your life.
Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman, the Keeper of the Prophet’s Secrets:
When, on the return from the Battle of Tabuk, the hypocrites tried to kill you ﷺ by leading you onto a mountain pass, Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman ؓ was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. At your ﷺ command, he was repeatedly striking the faces of the hypocrites’ mounts with his shield. Later, these hypocrites became known as the People of Aqabah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told the names of these fourteen or fifteen hypocrites, even the names of their fathers. However, you ﷺ also instructed Sayyiduna Hudhayfah ؓ never to reveal these names to others. That is why Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman is also called the Keeper of the Prophet’s ﷺ secrets. A brief mention of this incident is found in Muslim, Book of the Characteristics of the Hypocrites.
[34]
Exposing the Hypocrites Publicly is Against Allah’s Wisdom:
That is, to expose such hypocrites publicly is also against Allah’s wisdom. Otherwise, We would have told you everything, by which other Muslims would have known exactly which hypocrites have infiltrated among them.
Hypocrites Can Be Recognized by the Light of Insight:
However, We have certainly granted you such a light of insight that you can recognize them by their tone and manner of speech, that such and such a person is a hypocrite. The reason for this is that in the conversation of a straightforward and sincere true believer, there is a maturity and seriousness that cannot be found in the manner of speech of a person who harbors malice in his heart. Thus, by this very light of insight, you knew all the hypocrites by name in the last part of your life.
Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman, the Keeper of the Prophet’s Secrets:
When, on the return from the Battle of Tabuk, the hypocrites tried to kill you ﷺ by leading you onto a mountain pass, Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman ؓ was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. At your ﷺ command, he was repeatedly striking the faces of the hypocrites’ mounts with his shield. Later, these hypocrites became known as the People of Aqabah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told the names of these fourteen or fifteen hypocrites, even the names of their fathers. However, you ﷺ also instructed Sayyiduna Hudhayfah ؓ never to reveal these names to others. That is why Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman is also called the Keeper of the Prophet’s ﷺ secrets. A brief mention of this incident is found in Muslim, Book of the Characteristics of the Hypocrites.
