Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Munafiqun Verse 2

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They have made their oaths a shield, and thus they have prevented (others) from the way of Allah. Surely evil is what they have been doing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They have made their ˹false˺ oaths as a shield, hindering ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah. Evil indeed is what they do!

Ruwwad Translation Center

They have taken their oaths as a shield in order to hinder people from the way of Allah. Evil indeed is what they do!

A. J. Arberry

They have taken their oaths as a covering, then they have barred from the way of God. Surely they -- evil are the things they have been doing.

Abdul Haleem

they use their oaths as a cover and so bar others from God’s way: what they have been doing is truly evil––

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

They have taken their oaths for a shield; then they turn away men from the way of Allah. Verily vile is that which they have been working.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They have made their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds); thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of Allah; truly evil are their deeds.

Abul Ala Maududi

They shelter behind their oath, and thus hinder their own selves and others from the Path of Allah. Evil indeed is what they do.

Ahmed Ali

They have made their oaths a shield in order to obstruct others from the way of God. It is certainly evil what they do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

They have taken their oaths as a shield, thereby prevented others from Allah’s way; indeed they commit extremely evil deeds.

Ali Quli Qarai

They make a shield of their oaths, and bar from the way of Allah. Evil indeed is what they used to do.

Ali Ünal

They make their oaths a shelter (to hide their inner unbelief and protect themselves in the Muslim community), and so divert themselves (and seek to bar others) from God’s way. Evil indeed is what they habitually do.

Amatul Rahman Omar

They take shelter behind their oaths (to hide their evil designs). Thus they keep people back from the way of Allâh. Surely, evil is the practice they follow.

English Literal

They took their rights/oaths (as) a cover (shield) so they prevented/obstructed from God`s way/path , that they truly are bad/evil/harmful what they were making/doing .

Faridul Haque

They have taken their oaths as a shield, thereby prevented others from Allah’s way; indeed they commit extremely evil deeds.

Hamid S. Aziz

They make their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds), and thus turn away from Allah´s way; surely evil is that which they do.

Hilali & Khan

They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

When the hypocrites come to thee, they say: We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah’s Messenger. And Allah knows thou art indeed His Messenger. And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are surely liars.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

They make their oaths a shelter, and thus turn away from Allah's way; surely evil is that which they do.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They make their faith a pretext so that they may turn (men) from the way of Allah. Verily evil is that which they are wont to do,

Muhammad Sarwar

They have chosen their oaths as a shield for them to obstruct others from the way of God. How terrible is what they do!

Qaribullah & Darwish

They have taken their oaths as a cover and barred others from the Path of Allah. Evil is what they have done.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They have made their oaths a screen. Thus they hinder (others) from the path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do.

Wahiduddin Khan

they use their oaths as a cover and thus they bar others from God's way: what they have been doing is truly evil --

Talal Itani

They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from God’s path. Evil is what they do.

Tafsir jalalayn

They have taken their oaths as a shield, as a [means of] protection for their possessions and their lives, and so they have barred, thereby, from the way of God, that is, from using them for the struggle. Evil indeed is that which they are wont to do.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

اتَّخَذُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

They have made their oaths a screen. Thus they hinder (others) from the path of Allah.

meaning, the hypocrites shield themselves from Muslims when they falsely and sinfully swear to be what they are not in reality. Some Muslims were deceived because they did not know their falsehood, and thus, thought that they were Muslims. Some Muslims believed what hypocrites say and even imitated them in their outward behavior. However, inwardly, hypocrites seek the destruction of Islam and its people, and this is why trusting them might bring great harm to many people.

This is why Allah said next,

فَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

إِنَّهُمْ سَاء مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ



Thus they hinder (others) from the path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do.

Allah said,

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ امَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا فَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ