Surah An-Nisa — Verse 81

Word Meanings:

• "طَاعَةٌ" (Taa'ah): Obedience — here, it refers to their verbal claim of being obedient and submissive.
• "بَرَزُوا" (Barazoo): They went out, left, or departed from your presence.
• "بَيَّتَ" (Bayyata): To plan or scheme at night, i.e., to secretly devise something under the cover of darkness.
• "يَكْتُبُ" (Yaktubu): He records, writes down, or registers.
• "يُبَيِّتُونَ" (Yubayyitoon): What they secretly plan or conspire at night.
• "أَعْرِضْ" (A'rid): Turn away from, overlook, or disregard.
• "وَكِيلًا" (Wakeelan): A trustee, guardian, protector, or one who manages affairs on behalf of another.

Tafsir (Explanation):

This verse exposes the hypocritical nature of some individuals who claim to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but harbor deceit in their hearts. When they are in his presence, they declare, "We hear and we obey," projecting an image of loyalty and submission. Yet, the moment they leave his company and slip away from his sight, a group among them secretly conspires at night, plotting schemes that directly contradict what they had just professed with their tongues.

Allah, the All-Knowing, is fully aware of their hidden intentions and their nocturnal conspiracies. He records every single one of their secret plans in their scroll of deeds, and they will be held accountable for all of it on the Day of Judgment. Nothing escapes His knowledge — not even the faintest whisper in the darkest hour of the night.

The verse then instructs the Prophet (peace be upon him) to turn away from these hypocrites and not to punish them or engage in conflict with them over their hidden treachery. This is not a sign of weakness, but rather a divine command to rise above their pettiness and place complete trust in Allah alone. The Prophet is told to rely wholly on Allah, for He is the ultimate Protector and Sufficient Guardian. Whoever places their trust in Allah will never be let down, for Allah's protection is absolute and His justice is certain.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

This verse carries a timeless lesson for every believer. It reminds us that hypocrisy is a disease of the heart that Allah detests, and that outward words mean nothing if the inner self is corrupt. Allah sees what is hidden in the chests, and He will bring every secret to light. So let us purify our intentions, align our actions with our words, and be people of sincerity and integrity. And when we face those who deceive us, we should not waste our energy on revenge or anxiety — rather, we should turn to Allah, place our trust in Him, and know that He is the best of protectors. What a beautiful relief it is to know that when we rely on Allah, we are never alone, and His support is more than enough for us.