Al-Qur'an Surah Al-'Ankabut Verse 10

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Among men there are those who say, “We believe in Allah”, but when they are persecuted in (the way of) Allah, they take the persecution of men, as equal to the punishment of Allah. And should any help come from your Lord, they will certainly say, “We were with you.” Is it not that Allah knows well what lies in the hearts of the people of all the worlds?

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There are some who say, “We believe in Allah,” but when they suffer in the cause of Allah, they mistake ˹this˺ persecution at the hands of people for the punishment of Allah. But when victory comes from your Lord, they surely say ˹to the believers˺, “We have always been with you.” Does Allah not know best what is in the hearts of all beings?

Ruwwad Translation Center

There are some among people who say, “We believe in Allah”, but when they suffer for the sake of Allah, they deem the persecution of men as equal to the punishment of Allah. But when victory comes from your Lord, they will surely say, “We were with you.” Does Allah not know best what is in the hearts of all people?

A. J. Arberry

Some men there are who say, 'We believe in God,' but when such a man is hurt in God's cause, he makes the persecution of men as it were God's chastisement; then if help comes from thy Lord, he will say 'We were with you.' What, does not God know very well what is in the breasts of all beings?

Abdul Haleem

There are some people who say, ‘We believe in God,’ but, when they suffer for His cause, they think that human persecution is as severe as God’s punishment––yet, if any help comes to you [Prophet] from your Lord, they will say, ‘We have always been with you’. Does God not know best what is in everyone’s hearts?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Of mankind are some who say: we believe in Allah; then if they are afflicted in the way of Allah, they take the persecution of men even as the torment of Allah; and then, if succour cometh from thy Lord they say: verily we have been with you. Is not Allah the Best Knower of that which is in the breasts of the creatures?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then there are among men such as say, "We believe in Allah"; but when they suffer affliction in (the cause of) Allah, they treat men's oppression as if it were the Wrath of Allah! And if help comes (to thee) from thy Lord, they are sure to say, "We have (always) been with you!" Does not Allah know best all that is in the hearts of all creation?

Abul Ala Maududi

Among people there are some who say: “We believe in Allah.” But when such a person is made to endure suffering in Allah's cause, he reckons the persecution he suffers at the hands of people as though it is a chastisement from Allah. But if victory comes from your Lord, the same person will say “We were with you.” Does Allah not know whatever is in the hearts of the people of the world?

Ahmed Ali

There are among men those who say: "We believe in God;" yet if they happen to suffer in the cause of God they take oppression by men as punishment from God. And if help comes to them from your Lord, they say: "We were with you." Does not God know what is hidden in the hearts of men?

Ahmed Raza Khan

And some people say, “We believe in Allah” – so if they are afflicted with some adversity in Allah’s way, they consider the chaos created by men as the punishment from Allah; and if the help comes from your Lord, they will surely say, “Indeed we were with you”; does not Allah well know what is in the hearts of the entire creation?

Ali Quli Qarai

Among the people there are those who say, ‘We have faith in Allah,’ but if such a one is tormented in Allah’s cause, he takes persecution by the people for Allah’s punishment. Yet if there comes any help from your Lord, they will say, ‘We were indeed with you.’ Does not Allah know best what is in the breasts of the creatures?

Ali Ünal

Among the people are such as say, "We believe in God," but when (such a person) is subjected to persecution (for his confession of faith) in God, he construes persecution at the hands of people as God’s punishment (and rejects his faith); but if a victory comes from your Lord (to the believers), (such people) will most certainly say, "Surely we have always been with you." Or (do they think that) God is not fully aware of what is in the bosoms of all creatures (that He created)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

There are some (hypocrites) among the people who say, `We believe in Allâh.´ But when they are made to suffer in the cause of Allâh they regard the persecution by people as it were the punishment from Allâh. Yet if help comes from your Lord (and He gives you victory) they are sure to say, `Of course, we were with you, (we should also have a share in it).´ Why! does not Allâh know well enough what lies hidden in the hearts of all beings?

English Literal

And from the people who says: "We believed by God." So if he was harmed mildly in God, he made/put the people`s test/torture as/like God`s torture, and if victory/aid came from your Lord, they will say (E): "That we were with you." Or is not God with more knowledgeable with what (is in) the creation`s all together`s/(universes) chests (innermosts).

Faridul Haque

And some people say, “We believe in Allah” – so if they are afflicted with some adversity in Allah’s way, they consider the chaos created by men as the punishment from Allah; and if the help comes from your Lord, they will surely say, “Indeed we were with you”; does not Allah well know what is in the hearts of the entire creation?

Hamid S. Aziz

But those who believe and do right, We will surely make them enter amongst the righteous.

Hilali & Khan

Of mankind are some who say: "We believe in Allah," but if they are made to suffer for the sake of Allah, they consider the trial of mankind as Allah's punishment, and if victory comes from your Lord, (the hypocrites) will say: "Verily! We were with you (helping you)." Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the breast of the 'Alamin (mankind and jinns).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And We have enjoined on man goodness to his parents. But if they contend with thee to associate (others) with Me, of which thou has no knowledge, obey them not. To Me is your return, so I will inform you of what you did.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And among men is he who says: We believe in Allah; but when he is persecuted in (the way of) Allah he thinks the persecution of men to be as the chastisement of Allah; and if there come assistance from your Lord, they would most certainly say: Surely we were with you. What! is not Allah the best knower of what is in the breasts of mankind.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Of mankind is he who saith: We believe in Allah, but, if he be made to suffer for the sake of Allah, he mistaketh the persecution of mankind for Allah's punishment; and then, if victory cometh from thy Lord, will say: Lo! we were with you (all the while). Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the bosoms of (His) creatures?

Muhammad Sarwar

Some people say, "We have faith in God." But when they face some hardship for His cause, they begin to consider the persecution that they have experienced from people as a torment from God. When your Lord grants you a victory, they say, "We were with you." Does God not know best what is in the hearts of every creature?

Qaribullah & Darwish

There are some people who say: 'We believe in Allah' yet when such is hurt in the cause of Allah, he makes the persecution of people as though it were the punishment of Allah. But then if help comes from his Lord, he will say: 'We were with you' Does Allah not know what is in the (people's) chests of the worlds?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Of mankind are some who say: "We believe in Allah." But if they are made to suffer for Allah, they consider the trial of mankind as Allah's punishment; and if victory comes from your Lord, they will say: "Verily, we were with you." Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the breasts of the creatures

Wahiduddin Khan

Some profess to believe in God, but when they suffer for God's cause they mistake the persecution of man for the punishment of God. But when help comes to you from God, they will say, "We have always been with you." Is not God fully aware of what is in the hearts of all creatures?

Talal Itani

Among the people is he who says, “We have believed in God.” Yet when he is harmed on God’s account, he equates the people's persecution with God’s retribution. And if help comes from your Lord, he says, “We were actually with you.” Is not God aware of what is inside the hearts of the people?

Tafsir jalalayn

And among people there are those who say, `We believe in God', but if such [a person] suffers hurt in God's cause, he takes people's persecution, that is, their harming of him, to be [the same] as God's chastisement, in terms of his fear of it, and so he obeys them and behaves hypocritically. Yet if (la-in; the lm is for oaths) there comes help, to believers, from your Lord, and they take spoils, they will assuredly say (la-yaqlunna; the [final] nn [of the indicative] has been omitted because of the other nn coming after it, and likewise the ww, indicating the plural person [has been replaced by a damma], because of two unvocalised consonants coming together), `We were indeed with you', in faith, so give us a share of the booty. God, exalted be He, says; Does God not know best what is in the breasts of all creatures?, [what is] in their hearts of faith or hypocrisy? Indeed [He does].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Attitudes of the Hypocrites and the Ways in which Allah tests People

Allah mentions the descriptions of the liars who falsely claim faith with their lips, while faith is not firm in their hearts. When a test or trial comes in this world, they think that this is a punishment from Allah, so they leave Islam.

Allah says;

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ امَنَّا بِاللَّهِ فَإِذَا أُوذِيَ فِي اللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ النَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ اللَّهِ

Of mankind are some who say;"We believe in Allah." But if they are made to suffer for Allah, they consider the trial of mankind as Allah's punishment;

Ibn Abbas said,

"Meaning that their trial is leaving Islam if they are made to suffer for Allah."

This was also the view of others among the Salaf.

This Ayah is like the Ayah,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ

And among mankind is he who worships Allah as it were upon the edge;if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him, he turns back on his face... until;

ذلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلَـلُ الْبَعِيدُ

That is a straying far away. (22;11-12)

Then Allah says;

وَلَيِن جَاء نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ

and if victory comes from your Lord, they will say;"Verily, we were with you."

meaning, "if victory comes from your Lord, O Muhammad, and there are spoils of war, these people will say to you, `We were with you,' i.e., we are your brothers in faith."

This is like the Ayat;

الَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمْ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ قَالُواْ أَلَمْ نَكُنْ مَّعَكُمْ وَإِن كَانَ لِلْكَـفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ قَالُواْ أَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَنَمْنَعْكُمْ مِّنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ

Those who wait and watch about you; if you gain a victory from Allah, they say;"Were we not with you" But if the disbelievers gain a success, they say (to them);"Did we not gain mastery over you and did we not protect you from the believers". (4;141)

فَعَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَيُصْبِحُواْ عَلَى مَأ أَسَرُّواْ فِى أَنفُسِهِمْ نَـدِمِينَ

Perhaps Allah may bring a victory or a decision according to His will. Then they will become regretful for what they have been keeping as a secret in themselves. (5;52)

And Allah tells us about them here;
وَلَيِن جَاء نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ
(and if victory comes from your Lord, they will say;"Verily, we were with you.")

Then Allah says;

أَوَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِي صُدُورِ الْعَالَمِينَ



Is not Allah Best Aware of what is in the breasts of the creatures!

meaning, `does Allah not know best what is in their hearts and what they store secretly within themselves, even though outwardly they may appear to be in agreement with you!'

وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ