سُوْرَةُ الْحُجُراتِ
Surah Al-Hujuraat (49) — Ayah 14
۞ قَالَتِ ٱلْأَعْرَابُ ءَامَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِن قُولُوٓا۟ أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَـٰلِكُمْ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The bedouins say: "We believe." Say: "You believe not but you only say, ‘We have surrendered (in Islâm),’ for Faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), He will not decrease anything in reward for your deeds. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ قَالَتِ
qālati
Say
ٱلْأَعْرَابُ
l-aʿrābu
the Bedouins
ءَامَنَّا ۖ
āmannā
We believe
قُل
qul
Say
لَّمْ
lam
Not
تُؤْمِنُوا۟
tu'minū
you believe
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
قُولُوٓا۟
qūlū
say
أَسْلَمْنَا
aslamnā
We have submitted
وَلَمَّا
walammā
and has not yet
يَدْخُلِ
yadkhuli
entered
ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ
l-īmānu
the faith
فِى
fī
in
قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ
qulūbikum
your hearts
وَإِن
wa-in
But if
تُطِيعُوا۟
tuṭīʿū
you obey
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَرَسُولَهُۥ
warasūlahu
and His Messenger
لَا
lā
not
يَلِتْكُم
yalit'kum
He will deprive you
مِّنْ
min
of
أَعْمَـٰلِكُمْ
aʿmālikum
your deeds
شَيْـًٔا ۚ
shayan
anything
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
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.
14. The Bedouins say, "We have believed [23]." Say, "You have not believed; rather, say, 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish anything from your deeds. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[23]
What Was the Islam of the Bedouin Hypocrite Tribes Like?
These Bedouins were the same people who belonged to the tribes of Ghifar, Muzaynah, Juhaynah, Aslam, and Ashja‘, and due to their hypocrisy, they did not participate in the expedition of Hudaybiyyah. When youﷺ returned from this expedition, they started making excuses and pleading for forgiveness for themselves. Their mention has already passed in Surah Al-Ahzab, verses 11 to 16. These people had become Muslims by reciting the testimony of faith and also performed the pillars of Islam. However, faith had not become firmly rooted in their hearts. They were content with an easy and sweet Islam, but they were not ready to make any financial or physical sacrifice or to endure hardships for it.
The Difference Between Islam and Iman:
From this verse, it is clear that iman (faith) is one thing and Islam is another. This is also proven by the Hadith of Jibril. When Jibrilؑ asked you what is iman, you replied, “Iman is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers, and also in the fact that after death, you will be brought back to life.” And when Jibril asked what is Islam, youﷺ said, “That you worship Allah alone and do not associate any partner with Him, establish prayer, pay zakat, and fast in Ramadan.” [بخاری۔ کتاب الایمان۔ باب سؤال جبریل النبیﷺ ]
From this hadith, it is understood that iman is related to the actions of the heart, and Islam is related to outward actions. This is the aspect of difference between them, and the aspect of similarity is that if the pillars of Islam are performed regularly and with sincerity, then iman increases, and with the increase of iman, there is beauty in outward actions. In this respect, iman and Islam become supportive and inseparable from each other. The deficiency in the hypocrites is that there is neither sincerity in their actions nor beauty of deeds; therefore, their iman does not go beyond the verbal declaration of the testimony of faith, meaning that faith or conviction does not become firmly rooted in their hearts. Allah has considered this as equivalent to not having faith.
[24] That is, even now if you correct your attitude and wholeheartedly obey Allah and His Messenger, then Allah will grant you the reward of your previous deeds. He will not reduce anything from it. And He will also forgive your previous mistakes.
[23]
What Was the Islam of the Bedouin Hypocrite Tribes Like?
These Bedouins were the same people who belonged to the tribes of Ghifar, Muzaynah, Juhaynah, Aslam, and Ashja‘, and due to their hypocrisy, they did not participate in the expedition of Hudaybiyyah. When youﷺ returned from this expedition, they started making excuses and pleading for forgiveness for themselves. Their mention has already passed in Surah Al-Ahzab, verses 11 to 16. These people had become Muslims by reciting the testimony of faith and also performed the pillars of Islam. However, faith had not become firmly rooted in their hearts. They were content with an easy and sweet Islam, but they were not ready to make any financial or physical sacrifice or to endure hardships for it.
The Difference Between Islam and Iman:
From this verse, it is clear that iman (faith) is one thing and Islam is another. This is also proven by the Hadith of Jibril. When Jibrilؑ asked you what is iman, you replied, “Iman is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers, and also in the fact that after death, you will be brought back to life.” And when Jibril asked what is Islam, youﷺ said, “That you worship Allah alone and do not associate any partner with Him, establish prayer, pay zakat, and fast in Ramadan.” [بخاری۔ کتاب الایمان۔ باب سؤال جبریل النبیﷺ ]
From this hadith, it is understood that iman is related to the actions of the heart, and Islam is related to outward actions. This is the aspect of difference between them, and the aspect of similarity is that if the pillars of Islam are performed regularly and with sincerity, then iman increases, and with the increase of iman, there is beauty in outward actions. In this respect, iman and Islam become supportive and inseparable from each other. The deficiency in the hypocrites is that there is neither sincerity in their actions nor beauty of deeds; therefore, their iman does not go beyond the verbal declaration of the testimony of faith, meaning that faith or conviction does not become firmly rooted in their hearts. Allah has considered this as equivalent to not having faith.
[24] That is, even now if you correct your attitude and wholeheartedly obey Allah and His Messenger, then Allah will grant you the reward of your previous deeds. He will not reduce anything from it. And He will also forgive your previous mistakes.
