"They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy)." (1) (63:2) (1): (Ch. 2) "An-Nifāq": (Hypocrisy is of two types, namely: A - Hypocrisy in Belief B - Hypocrisy in deeds and actions. ) Sahih al-Bukhari 4901

Sahih al-Bukhari 4901
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ عَمِّي فَسَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أُبَىٍّ ابْنَ سَلُولَ يَقُولُ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْفَضُّوا‏.‏ وَقَالَ أَيْضًا لَئِنْ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الأَذَلَّ‏.‏ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَمِّي فَذَكَرَ عَمِّي لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُبَىٍّ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، فَحَلَفُوا مَا قَالُوا، فَصَدَّقَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَذَّبَنِي، فَأَصَابَنِي هَمٌّ لَمْ يُصِبْنِي مِثْلُهُ، فَجَلَسْتُ فِي بَيْتِي، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏‏{‏إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ‏}‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏‏{‏هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لاَ تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏}‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏‏{‏لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الأَذَلَّ‏}‏ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَىَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ صَدَّقَكَ ‏"
Translation
Narrated Zaid bin Arqam

I was with my uncle and I heard `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, saying, "Don't spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that they may disperse and go away from him." He also said, "If we return to Medina, surely, the more honorable will expel the meaner." So I informed my uncle of that and then my uncle informed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) thereof. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent for `Abdullah bin Ubai and his companions. They swore that they did not say anything of that sort Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) deemed their statement true and rejected mine. Thereof I became as distressed as I have never been before, and stayed at home. Then Allah revealed (Surat Al-Munafiqin): 'When the hypocrites come to you.....(63.1) They are the ones who say: Spend nothing on those who are with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ..(63.7) Verily the more honorable will expel therefrom the meaner..' (63.7-8) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent for me and recited that Sura for me and said, "Allah has confirmed your statement."

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (4901) within the chapter of Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an, captures the pivotal moment when Allah revealed Surat Al-Munafiqun (Chapter 63) exposing the treachery of the hypocrites of Medina. The central theme revolves around divine vindication of truth against falsehood, the protection of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions through revelation, and the psychological ordeal of a young believer (Zayd ibn Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him) who was temporarily disbelieved but ultimately honored by Allah's confirmation. The hadith demonstrates that Allah defends His Messenger ﷺ and the believers, and that apparent worldly defeat is often a precursor to divine victory and clarity.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The incident occurred after the expedition of Banu Mustaliq (in 5 or 6 AH), when the hypocrite leader 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, the self-styled "chief" of Medina, attempted to sow discord among the Muhajirun and Ansar. His words "Don't spend on those who are with Allah's Messenger ﷺ that they may disperse and go away from him" and "If we return to Medina, surely, the more honorable will expel the meaner" were reported by the young Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him). Linguistically, "الْأَعَزُّ" (al-a'azz, the more honorable) and "الْأَذَلُّ" (al-adhall, the meaner) are elative forms denoting comparative superiority and inferiority—a rhetorical device of arrogance. The Arabic term "نُنْفِقَ" (nunfiqa, spend) reflects the hypocrites' attempt to weaponize wealth against the Prophet's ﷺ community. The revelation of Surat Al-Munafiqun, particularly verses 7-8, directly refuted this claim, affirming that true honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, not to worldly status.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Divine Vindication of Truth: This hadith establishes that Allah defends His Prophet ﷺ and the truthful believers, and that revelation serves as the ultimate arbiter of truth, as seen when Allah confirmed Zayd's report despite the hypocrites' false oaths.
  • Judicial Principle of Oaths and Evidence: Scholars derive that in worldly legal matters, a defendant's oath takes precedence over a single plaintiff's testimony, yet this does not negate the moral and divine truth—a principle highlighting the distinction between judicial rulings and actual reality.
  • Ethical Conduct in Reporting: Zayd's action of informing his uncle and then the Prophet ﷺ demonstrates the obligation to convey harmful statements to authorities when they pose a threat to the community, while also showing the importance of patience and trust in Allah during trials of false accusation.
"Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Fath al-Bari: 'This hadith contains a manifest miracle of the Prophet ﷺ, for Allah revealed the entire Surah confirming the report of Zayd ibn Arqam, and thus the truth of the believer was made manifest over the falsehood of the hypocrite, and Allah's promise to protect His Messenger ﷺ from the harm of the enemies was fulfilled.'"

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

This hadith teaches believers to remain steadfast in truth even when they are initially disbelieved or rejected. In daily life, one should uphold honesty and courage in reporting wrongdoing, while entrusting the outcome to Allah, knowing that He never abandons the sincere. When facing false accusations or temporary humiliation, take solace in Zayd's example—his distress was turned into divine honor. Moreover, the hadith warns against arrogance and divisiveness, reminding us that true honor lies in taqwa (God-consciousness), not in wealth, lineage, or social status. Muslims today should strive to be among the truthful, to defend the Prophet's ﷺ legacy against all forms of hypocrisy, and to trust that Allah will reveal the truth in His perfect timing, both in this world and the Hereafter.