Tafseer of The Repentance · At-Tawba · 9:64
They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a surah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His word: يَحْذَرُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ أَنْ تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ قُلِ اسْتَهْزِئُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَا تَحْذَرُونَ (64) (The hypocrites are apprehensive lest a sūra be sent down concerning them that would inform them of what is in their hearts. Say: "Mock on! Truly, Allah will bring to light what you dread.") (64)
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is remembered, says: The hypocrites (munāfiqūn) are apprehensive lest a sūra be sent down concerning them that would inform them of what is in their hearts. That is to say: a sūra that would acquaint the believers with what is in their hearts.
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And it is said: Allah sent down this verse concerning the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, because the hypocrites, when they reviled the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and mentioned something about his affair and that of the Muslims, used to say: "Perhaps Allah will not disclose our secret!" Thereupon Allah said to His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: say to them: استهزءوا (Mock on), as a threat and a warning to them: إن الله مخرج ما تحذرون (truly, Allah will bring to light what you dread).
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And in accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
16907 - Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to us, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, on the authority of ʿĪsā, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: يحذر المنافقون أن تنزل عليهم سورة (the hypocrites are apprehensive lest a sūra be sent down concerning them), he said: They say something among themselves, and then they say: "Perhaps Allah will not disclose our secret about us!"
16908 - Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: Al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid, something similar - except that he said: "this secret of ours".
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As for His word: إن الله مخرجٌ ما تحذرون (truly, Allah will bring to light what you dread), by it He means: truly, Allah will make manifest to you, O hypocrites, what you dreaded would become manifest. Thus Allah made that manifest concerning them and disgraced them. For this reason this sūra was named "al-Fāḍiḥa" (the Exposer, the One that puts to shame).
16909 - Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, who said: This sūra was named "al-Fāḍiḥa", the exposer of the hypocrites.
