Surah 9

Surah 9:126

"Do they not see that they are tested every year once or twice? Yet still they do not turn (in repentance), nor do they take heed."
Hypocrites suffer Afflictions Verses 9:126-127
Show Full Scripture Context (9:126-127) — 2 Verses
Verse 126

أَوَلَا يَرَوۡنَ أَنَّهُمۡ يُفۡتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٖ مَّرَّةً أَوۡ مَرَّتَيۡنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

Do they not see that they are tested every year once or twice? Yet still they do not turn (in repentance), nor do they take heed.

Verse 127

وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتۡ سُورَةٞ نَّظَرَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ هَلۡ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنۡ أَحَدٖ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُواْۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَوۡمٞ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ

Whenever a sūra is sent down, some of them look at others: ‘Does anyone see you?’ Then they turn away. God has turned away their hearts, because they are a people who do not understand.

Allah says, do not these hypocrites see. {that they are put in trial}, being tested, {once or twice every year? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson.} They neither repent from their previous sins nor learn a lesson for the future. Mujahid said that hypocrites are tested with drought and hunger. 1] At-Tabari 14:580. Allah said; {And whenever there comes down a Surah, they look at one another (saying) : "Does any one see you?" Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts because they are a people that understand not.} This describes the hypocrites that when a Surah is revealed to the Messenger of Allah, {they look at one another}, they turn their heads, right and left, saying, {"Does any one see you?" Then they turn away...} turning away from, and shunning the truth. This is the description of hypocrites in this life, for they do not remain where the truth is being declared, neither accepting nor understanding it, just as Allah said in other Ayat, [{Then what is wrong with them that they turn away from admonition? As if they were wild donkeys. Fleeing from a lion.} [74:49-51], and, {So what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten to hear from you. (Sitting) in groups on the right and on the left.} [70:36-37]. This Ayah also means, what is the matter with these people who turn away from you to the right and to the left, to escape from truth and revert to falsehood? Allah's statement, {Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts (from Truth)} is similar to, {So when they turned away, Allah turned their hearts away.} [61:5]. Allah said next, {because they are a people that understand not.} They neither understand Allah's Word nor attempt to comprehend it nor want it. Rather, they are too busy, turning away from it. This is why they ended up in this condition.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.