Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 9 At-Tawbah, Ayat 67-67

اَلۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ وَالۡمُنٰفِقٰتُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡضٍ​ۘ يَاۡمُرُوۡنَ بِالۡمُنۡكَرِ وَيَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَيَقۡبِضُوۡنَ اَيۡدِيَهُمۡ​ؕ نَسُوا اللّٰهَ فَنَسِيَهُمۡ​ؕ اِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِيۡنَ هُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَ‏ ﴿9:67﴾

[9:67] The hypocrites, be they men or women, are all alike. They enjoin what is evil, and forbid what is good, and withhold their hands from doing good.75 They forgot Allah, so Allah also forgot them. Surely the hypocrites are wicked.


Notes

75. These are the common characteristics of all hypocrites. All of them are interested in evil and inimical to good. If someone undertakes to do an evil thing, they would dedicate all their sympathies, counsels, encouragements, contributions, good wishes, praises, and their approvals to such a one. They would join hands to accomplish that evil thing and persuade others to take part in it and encourage others in every way. Moreover, they would show in every way their hearty pleasure if they perceived that the evil thing was progressing satisfactorily. On the other hand, if someone undertakes to do a good thing, they are shocked to bear the very news of it for it pains their hearts; nay, they do not even like that such a thing should be undertaken at all. Then, if they see someone coming forward to help it, they feel very uncomfortable and try their best to hinder him from it, and if he does not give it up, they would wish that he should fail in it. Then all of them have this common characteristic that they do not spend anything at all for good ends irrespective of the fact whether they be otherwise parsimonious or generous. At any rate, their wealth is either for hoarding or for evil deeds. As a matter of fact, they would spend large sums on evil works generously but would not be willing to spend a farthing for good things.