Surah At-Tawbah — Verse 96

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• يَحْلِفُونَ (Yahlifūna): They swear oaths.
• لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ (Litardaū ʿanhum): So that you (the believers) may be pleased with them.
• الْفَاسِقِينَ (Al-Fāsiqīn): The defiantly disobedient, those who persistently rebel against Allah's commands and exit the path of obedience.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah Almighty exposes the true nature of the hypocrites who stayed behind from the expedition, refusing to join the believers in Jihad. When they returned and were confronted, they began swearing emphatic, false oaths—swearing by Allah that they had valid excuses—all in an attempt to win your approval and acceptance, O believers. They sought to appease you with their tongues while their hearts were filled with deceit and rebellion.

Allah then delivers a profound and decisive truth: even if you, in your human compassion and unawareness of their inner reality, were to accept their excuses and become pleased with them, your pleasure alone would be of no benefit to them whatsoever. For Allah—the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing—is not pleased with a people who persist in wickedness and flagrant disobedience. Their sin is not hidden from Him, and His displeasure outweighs any human acceptance. Thus, their oaths are worthless, and their attempts to gain your favor are futile, because the ultimate criterion is not your satisfaction but Allah's.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse carries a timeless lesson for every believer: never let your emotions, personal relationships, or superficial appearances override the clear commands and standards of Allah. The hypocrites' strategy was to use oaths and outward charm to manipulate the believers' hearts—but Allah warns us that His pleasure is the only true measure of success. When you see someone persistently sinning, openly defying Allah's limits, and showing no remorse, do not be swayed by their sweet words or dramatic swearing. Instead, hold firmly to the scales of Allah: love for His sake, hate for His sake, and judge by His law. This is the path of true sincerity and wisdom. And what a beautiful honor it is to be among those whom Allah is pleased with—a pleasure that outweighs the entire world and everything in it. So strive to earn His pleasure above all else, and guard your heart from being deceived by those who have earned His wrath.