Surah 63. Al-Munafiqun, Ayah 4
| ۞ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ ۖ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُسَنَّدَةٌ ۖ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ |
| Asad | : | Now when thou seest them, their outward appearance may please thee; and when they speak, thou art inclined to lend ear to what they say.4 [But though they may seem as sure of themselves] as if they were timbers [firmly] propped up, they think that every shout is [directed] against them. They are the [real] enemies [of all faith], so beware of them. [They deserve the imprecation,] "May God destroy them!"5 How perverted are their minds!6 - |
| Malik | : | When you see them, their good stature pleases you; and when they speak, you listen to what they say. Yet they are as worthless as hollow pieces of propped up timber. Every shout they hear, they think it to be against them. They are your enemies, so guard yourselves against them. May Allah destroy them! How perverse they are! |
| Pickthall | : | And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted! |
| Yusuf Ali | : | When thou lookest at them their exteriors please thee; and when they speak thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of Allah be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)! 5468 5470 5471 |
| Transliteration | : | Waitha raaytahum tuAAjibuka ajsamuhum wain yaqooloo tasmaAA liqawlihim kaannahum khushubun musannadatun yahsaboona kulla sayhatin AAalayhim humu alAAaduwwu faihtharhum qatalahumu Allahu anna yufakoona |
Note - 4Lit., "thou dost give ear to them": i.e., hypocrisy has
usually a plausible outward aspect inasmuch as it is
meant to deceive.
|
Note - 5Regarding my interpolation of the phrase "They deserve
the imprecation", see note [45] on the identical sentence
at the end of 9:30.
|
Note - 6See surah {5}, note [90].
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Note - 5468Cf. ii. 7. Their double-dealing has fogged their
understanding. In Arabic the heart is taken to be the
seat of understanding as well as of affection.
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Note - 5470Good timber is strong in itself and can support roofs and
buildings. Hollow timber is useless, and has to be
propped up against other things. The Hypocrites are like
rotten timber. They have no firm character themselves,
and for others they are unsafe props to rely upon.
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Note - 5471Their conscience always troubles them. If any cry is
raised, they immediately get alarmed, and think it is
against themselves. Such men are worse than open enemies.
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Lit., "thou dost give ear to them": i.e., hypocrisy has usually a plausible outward aspect inasmuch as it is meant to deceive. |
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Regarding my interpolation of the phrase "They deserve the imprecation", see note [45] on the identical sentence at the end of 9:30. |
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Cf. ii. 7. Their double-dealing has fogged their understanding. In Arabic the heart is taken to be the seat of understanding as well as of affection. |
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Good timber is strong in itself and can support roofs and buildings. Hollow timber is useless, and has to be propped up against other things. The Hypocrites are like rotten timber. They have no firm character themselves, and for others they are unsafe props to rely upon. |
