Surah 9

Surah 9:64

"The hypocrites are afraid that a sūra will be sent down against them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say: ‘Go on mocking! Surely God will bring forth what you are afraid of.’"
The Hypocrites fear Public Exposure of Their Secrets Verses 9:64
Show Full Scripture Context (9:64) — 1 Verse
Verse 64

يَحۡذَرُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ أَن تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ سُورَةٞ تُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡۚ قُلِ ٱسۡتَهۡزِءُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡرِجٞ مَّا تَحۡذَرُونَ

The hypocrites are afraid that a sūra will be sent down against them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say: ‘Go on mocking! Surely God will bring forth what you are afraid of.’

Quoted Scripture
"64. The hypocrites fear lest a Surah should be revealed about them, showing them what is in their hearts. Say: "(Go ahead and) mock! But certainly Allah will bring to light all that you fear.""

Mujahid said, "The hypocrites would say something to each other then declare, 'We wish that Allah does not expose this secret of ours.'" There is a similar Ayah to this one, that is, Allah's statement,
{And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves: "Why should Allah punish us not for what we say?" Hell will be sufficient for them; they will bum therein. And worst indeed is that destination!} [58:8].
Allah said in this Ayah,
{Say: "(Go ahead and) mock! But certainly Allah will bring to light all that you fear"}

He will expose and explain your reality to His Messenger through revelation. Allah said in other Ayat,
{Or do those in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy), think that Allah will not bring to light all their hidden ill-wills?} [47:29], until,
{but surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech!} [47:30].
This is why, according to Qatadah, this Surah is called 'Al-Fadihah' (the Exposing), because it exposed the hypocrites.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 4, Page 461-462)

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.