Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nur Verse 53

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And they (the hypocrites) swear by Allah on forceful oaths that if you (O prophet) order them, they will certainly leave (their homes for Jihād ). Say, “do not swear, (the reality of your) obedience is known. Indeed Allah is fully aware of what you do.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They swear by Allah their most solemn oaths that if you ˹O Prophet˺ were to command them, they would certainly march forth ˹in Allah’s cause˺. Say, “˹You˺ do not ˹have to˺ swear; your obedience is well known!”[[ This is used in a sarcastic way. It means, “Save your oaths! Everyone knows you are only bluffing. It is actions that matter, not words.”]] Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

They [the hypocrites] swear by Allah their most solemn oaths that if you order them, they will surely march forth. Say, “do not swear, [your] obedience is well known. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”

A. J. Arberry

They have sworn by God the most earnest oaths, if thou commandest them they will go forth. Say: 'Do not swear; honourable obedience is sufficient. Surely God is aware of the things you do.'

Abdul Haleem

[The others] solemnly swear by God that if you [Prophet] commanded them, they would march out. Tell them, ‘Do not swear: it is reasonable obedience that is required, and God is aware of everything you do.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they swear by Allah with their solemn oaths that, if thou commandest them they will surely go forth. Say thou: swear not, obedience is recognize! verily Allah is Aware of that which ye Work.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that, if only thou wouldst command them, they would leave (their homes). Say; "Swear ye not; Obedience is (more) reasonable; verily, Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do."

Abul Ala Maududi

They (the hypocrites) solemnly swear by Allah and say, "If you order us, we will leave our homes." Say to them, "Do not swear oaths for your `obedience' is well known; Allah is fully aware of what you are doing. "

Ahmed Ali

They swear solemnly by God: "If you command us we shall go forth." Say: "Do not swear. What is wanted is obedience, as should be. God is certainly aware of what you do."

Ahmed Raza Khan

And they swore by Allah most vehemently in their oaths that if you order them, they will go forth to holy war; say, “Do not swear; obedience according to the law is required; indeed Allah knows what you do.”

Ali Quli Qarai

They swear by Allah with solemn oaths that if you order them they will surely march out. Say, ‘Do not swear! Honourable obedience [is all that is expected of you]. Allah is indeed well aware of what you do.’

Ali Ünal

They (the hypocritical ones) swear by God most solemnly that if you should ever order them, they would most certainly go forth (to fight in God’s cause). Tell them: "Do not swear. What is expected of you is obedience of the proper kind, well-known. (So you should do what other believers do and therefore will go forth when commanded to do so without gestures indicating exaggeration and affectation)." God is fully aware of all that you do.

Amatul Rahman Omar

They (- the hypocrites) swear to Allâh by their most earnest oaths that if you only command them (for defensive fight) they will certainly march forth (from their homes). Say, `Do not swear, only reasonable obedience in what is right and lawful (is all that is required from you).´ Surely, Allâh is Aware of what you do.

English Literal

And they swore/made oath by God their rights`/oaths` utmost , if (E) you ordered/commanded them they will get out (E), say: "Do not swear/make oath, known obedience, that God (is) expert/experienced with what you make/do ."

Faridul Haque

And they swore by Allah most vehemently in their oaths that if you order them, they will go forth to holy war; say, "Do not swear; obedience according to the law is required; indeed Allah knows what you do."

Hamid S. Aziz

He who obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, such indeed are the victorious.

Hilali & Khan

They swear by Allah their strongest oaths, that if only you would order them, they would leave (their homes for fighting in Allah's Cause). Say: "Swear you not; (this) obedience (of yours) is known (to be false). Verily, Allah knows well what you do."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And he who obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah and keeps duty to Him, these it is that are the achievers.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they swear by Allah with the most energetic of their oaths that if you command them they would certainly go forth. Say: Swear not; reasonable obedience (is desired); surely Allah is aware of what you do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They swear by Allah solemnly that, if thou order them, they will go forth. Say: Swear not; known obedience (is better). Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do.

Muhammad Sarwar

They strongly swear by God that they would march to fight (for the cause of God) if you were to order them to. Tell them, "You do not need to swear; fighting for the cause of God is a virtuous deed and God is Well Aware of what you do".

Qaribullah & Darwish

They swear by Allah in the most earnest oaths, that if you order them, they would go forth. Say: 'Do not swear, known obedience (is better). Allah is Aware of the things you do'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if only you would order them, they would leave. Say: "Swear you not; obedience is known. Verily, Allah knows well what you do."

Wahiduddin Khan

They swear firm oaths by God that if you command them to march forth, they will obey you. Say, "Do not swear: your obedience, not your oaths, will count. God is well aware of all your actions."

Talal Itani

And they swear by God with their solemn oaths, that if you commanded them, they would mobilize. Say, “Do not swear. Obedience will be recognized. God is experienced with what you do.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And they swear by God solemn oaths that if you order them, to [participate in the] struggle, they will surely go forth. Say, to them; `Do not swear! Acknowledged obedience, to the Prophet is better than the oaths to which you are not true. Surely God is Aware of what you do', when you say you will obey but act otherwise.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَيِنْ أَمَرْتَهُمْ لَيَخْرُجُنَّ

They swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if only you would order them, they would leave.

Allah says about the hypocrites who had promised the Messenger and sworn that if he were to command them to go out for battle, they would go;

قُل لاَّ تُقْسِمُوا

Say;"Swear you not..."

meaning, do not swear this oath.

طَاعَةٌ مَّعْرُوفَةٌ

obedience is known.

It was said that the meaning is, your obedience is known, i.e., it is known that your obedience is merely verbal and is not accompanied by action. Every time you swear an oath you lie.

This is like the Ayah;

يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْاْ عَنْهُمْ

They swear to you that you may be pleased with them... (9;96)

And Allah says;

اتَّخَذْواْ أَيْمَـنَهُمْ جُنَّةً

They have made their oaths a screen (for their evil actions). (58;16)

It is part of their nature to tell lies, even in the issues they choose, as Allah says;

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نَـفَقُواْ يَقُولُونَ لاِخْوَانِهِمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ لَيِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فيكُمْ أَحَداً أَبَداً وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ

لَيِنْ أُخْرِجُواْ لَا يَخْرُجُونَ مَعَهُمْ وَلَيِن قُوتِلُواْ لَا يَنصُرُونَهُمْ وَلَيِن نَّصَرُوهُمْ لَيُوَلُّنَّ الاٌّدْبَـرَ ثُمَّ لَا يُنصَرُونَ

Have you not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve;"If you are expelled, we indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you; and if you are attacked, we shall indeed help you." But Allah is Witness that they verily are liars.

Surely, if they are expelled, never will they go out with them; and if they are attacked, they will never help them. And if they do help them, they will turn their backs, and they will not be victorious. (59;11-12)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ



Verily, Allah knows well what you do."

Then Allah says