سُوْرَةُ الْمُنَافِقُوْنَ
Surah Al-Munaafiqoon (63) — Ayah 4
۞ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَقُولُوا۟ تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ ۖ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ ۖ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ هُمُ ٱلْعَدُوُّ فَٱحْذَرْهُمْ ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as blocks of wood propped up. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allâh curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the Right Path?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
رَأَيْتَهُمْ
ra-aytahum
you see them
تُعْجِبُكَ
tuʿ'jibuka
pleases you
أَجْسَامُهُمْ ۖ
ajsāmuhum
their bodies
وَإِن
wa-in
and if
يَقُولُوا۟
yaqūlū
they speak
تَسْمَعْ
tasmaʿ
you listen
لِقَوْلِهِمْ ۖ
liqawlihim
to their speech
كَأَنَّهُمْ
ka-annahum
as if they (were)
خُشُبٌۭ
khushubun
pieces of wood
مُّسَنَّدَةٌۭ ۖ
musannadatun
propped up
يَحْسَبُونَ
yaḥsabūna
They think
كُلَّ
kulla
every
صَيْحَةٍ
ṣayḥatin
shout
عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ
ʿalayhim
(is) against them
هُمُ
humu
They
ٱلْعَدُوُّ
l-ʿaduwu
(are) the enemy
فَٱحْذَرْهُمْ ۚ
fa-iḥ'dharhum
so beware of them
قَـٰتَلَهُمُ
qātalahumu
May destroy them
ٱللَّهُ ۖ
l-lahu
Allah
أَنَّىٰ
annā
How
يُؤْفَكُونَ
yu'fakūna
are they deluded
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.
4. If you see them, their appearance [5] pleases you, and if they speak, you listen to their words. They are like pieces of wood propped up against a wall [6]. Every loud cry they think is against them [7]. They are the real enemies, so beware of them [8]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?
[5]
The Habits and Traits of the Hypocrites:
The leader of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, was also a chief in terms of wealth. He was very handsome in appearance and a tall, well-built young man. Among the prisoners of Badr was your ﷺ uncle, Sayyiduna Abbas, who was unclothed, and only his (Abdullah bin Ubayy’s) shirt could fit him. You ﷺ asked Abdullah bin Ubayy for it, and he gave it. The recompense for this was given by you ﷺ when Abdullah bin Ubayy died. And his son Abdullah, who was a true Muslim, requested you ﷺ that if you would give your shirt, he would clothe his father with it, and you ﷺ gave it. He was also eloquent. He knew how to speak and how to please and satisfy others with his words. When he spoke, one would wish to keep listening to him. Some of his close companions also possessed such qualities.
[6] When these people would come to your gathering, they would sit leaning against a wall. In reality, they did this to show their superiority and air of indifference. And Allah likened them to pieces of wood in that wood has no ability to hear, think, or understand. Similarly, these people come only for show. They neither listen attentively to your ﷺ words, nor, if they do hear something, do they bother to understand or reflect upon it, and they leave just as they came, shaking off their garments. They are not ready to accept any guidance.
[7] They are so cowardly and fearful that at the slightest rustle, their hearts tremble. Like habitual criminals, they are always anxious that perhaps some secret of theirs has been exposed, or that they are about to be caught for some deed.
[8] Because these people are insiders and snakes in the sleeve. They convey all your matters to the enemies and keep them informed of every action. These people are more dangerous than your open enemies, i.e., the Jews, the disbelievers of Makkah, and the polytheists. Therefore, it is necessary to be extremely cautious of them.
[5]
The Habits and Traits of the Hypocrites:
The leader of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, was also a chief in terms of wealth. He was very handsome in appearance and a tall, well-built young man. Among the prisoners of Badr was your ﷺ uncle, Sayyiduna Abbas, who was unclothed, and only his (Abdullah bin Ubayy’s) shirt could fit him. You ﷺ asked Abdullah bin Ubayy for it, and he gave it. The recompense for this was given by you ﷺ when Abdullah bin Ubayy died. And his son Abdullah, who was a true Muslim, requested you ﷺ that if you would give your shirt, he would clothe his father with it, and you ﷺ gave it. He was also eloquent. He knew how to speak and how to please and satisfy others with his words. When he spoke, one would wish to keep listening to him. Some of his close companions also possessed such qualities.
[6] When these people would come to your gathering, they would sit leaning against a wall. In reality, they did this to show their superiority and air of indifference. And Allah likened them to pieces of wood in that wood has no ability to hear, think, or understand. Similarly, these people come only for show. They neither listen attentively to your ﷺ words, nor, if they do hear something, do they bother to understand or reflect upon it, and they leave just as they came, shaking off their garments. They are not ready to accept any guidance.
[7] They are so cowardly and fearful that at the slightest rustle, their hearts tremble. Like habitual criminals, they are always anxious that perhaps some secret of theirs has been exposed, or that they are about to be caught for some deed.
[8] Because these people are insiders and snakes in the sleeve. They convey all your matters to the enemies and keep them informed of every action. These people are more dangerous than your open enemies, i.e., the Jews, the disbelievers of Makkah, and the polytheists. Therefore, it is necessary to be extremely cautious of them.
