Al-Munaafiqoon (The Hypocrites)

2. They have made their oaths a shield and thereby hinder people from the Path of Allah. Indeed, evil is what they do.

3. Such hypocrisy is because they believed and then disbelieved. Therefore, their hearts are sealed by the seal of misfortune as a consequence of which they understand not.

The word junna denotes “shield” which protects the body from arrows. The Holy Qur’an, many a time, treats of the false oaths taken by hypocrites saying that they pledge to satisfy you. Thus, the blessed Verse treats of the second token of the hypocrites saying that they use their oaths as a shield so that they may impede people from treading the Path of God Almighty.

They commit very evil deeds

(“Indeed, evil is what they do”),

since they pretend belief but inwardly, they disbelieve and make impediments on the path of Guidance. What is worse and more evil than taking oaths swearing by the Sacred Name of God Almighty in order to disguise one's real intentions and attract people's sentiments and deceive them by hindering them from Allah's Path.

It is worthy of note, however, that such expression reflects that they are at war with believers at all times and believers are supposed to be deceived by their hypocritical conduct and sweet words, since shields are opted in battlefields.

The blessed Verse 3 treats of the main cause behind such unworthy deeds, saying that

“Such hypocrisy is because they believed and then disbelieved.”

The blessed Verse may reflect that they hypocrites seemingly converted to the Islamic faith by uttering the formula

“There is no god but Allah and Muhammad (S) is Allah's Messenger (S)”

out of hypocrisy, fear, greed, or other mal intentions. Nonetheless, they reflected their disbelief later on as it was the case with ‘Abd Allah ibn Ubayy who converted to the Islamic faith but later expressed his disbelief.

The blessed Verse may also allude to the point that some of the hypocrites are likewise, since faith has not penetrated their hearts.

Upon hearing the inimitable Qur’anic Verses from the Noble Prophet of the Islamic faith (S), they expressed their belief, though upon meeting with their chiefs, they said unto them that they were in their line. God Almighty exposes their hypocrisy. Taking into account the contextual meaning and the occasion of the Revelation of the blessed Verse, the former interpretation is more manifest.

“Therefore, their hearts are sealed by the seal of misfortune as a consequence of which they understand not.”

Human heart is originally of two dimensions, one turns toward the heavenly and angelic realm and the other turns toward the natural and satanic world. When the former dimension is strengthened and human heart entertains the remembrance of God Almighty, it may accommodate the Throne of the Most Gracious Allah and Divine Inspirations where angels may frequent. Au contraire, when the former dimension takes the upper hand, devils tempt him and lead man to corruption.

In this vein, it is narrated in traditions that human heart has two ears: one hears the angels and makes man commit righteous good deeds; the other ear hears the devils and thereby inclines toward committing evil. It is narrated from the Noble Prophet (S) that had the devils not encompassed the hearts of the children of Adam (as), he would have looked at the heavenly realm as well as the earth.¹

Therefore, man may use his own heart to understand that at times he is inclined toward committing good righteous deeds as prescribed by God Almighty and thereby perceive that such committing such meritorious deeds is inspired by angels. Au contraire, he may understand that satanic temptations provoke him to commit evils deeds against Divine Injunctions. It goes without saying that human acts are not predestined, since they pave the path for their own acts.