Transliteration:( Wala'in sa altahum layaqoolunna innamaa kunnaa nakhoodu wa nal'ab; qul abillaahi wa 'Aayaatihee wa Rasoolihee kuntum tastahzi'oon )
"And if you ask them, [O Beloved Prophet], they will surely say [181], 'We were only talking idly and playing.' Say, 'Is it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking?'"
This verse was revealed during the journey to the Battle of Tabuk. Two hypocrites openly doubted the victory of the Muslims over the Romans and ridiculed the Holy Prophet ﷺ by saying that his assumption of victory was unrealistic. A third man among them, though he did not speak, laughed along with them. When the Holy Prophet ﷺ summoned the three for explanation, they attempted to cover up their hypocrisy by saying they were only joking to ease the boredom of the journey. In response to this excuse, Allah revealed this powerful verse condemning their mockery.
Knowledge of the Unseen
This verse proves that Allah Almighty blessed the Holy Prophet ﷺ with the knowledge of the unseen. Even the private conversations of the hypocrites, which they assumed were hidden, were made known to him by divine revelation.
Silence and Laughter at Disbelief is Also Disbelief
This situation highlights that even silent approval or amusement at words of disbelief is itself an act of disbelief. Laughing or remaining quiet while others insult the Prophet or express kufr (disbelief) equates to endorsing it, which is itself a serious sin.
Insulting the Prophet ﷺ is Equivalent to Insulting Allah
The hypocrites mocked the Holy Prophet ﷺ, but the Qur'an responds as though they mocked Allah and His signs too. This illustrates that any insult towards the Messenger ﷺ is a direct insult towards Allah Almighty and His revealed verses. Hence, showing complete respect to the Prophet ﷺ is an essential part of faith and honoring Allah Himself.
65. If you ask them (about this), they declare: “We were only talking idly and joking.” Say: “Was it at Allah, and His Ayat and His Messenger that you were mocking” 66. Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others among you because they were criminals.
`Abdullah bin `Umar said, “During the battle of Tabuk, a man was sitting in a gathering and said, `I have never seen like these reciters of ours! They have the hungriest stomachs, the most lying tongues and are the most cowardice in battle.’ A man in the Masjid said, `You lie. You are a hypocrite, and I will surely inform the Messenger of Allah. ‘ This statement was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah and also a part of the Qur’an was revealed about it.”’ `Abdullah bin `Umar said, “I have seen that man afterwards holding onto the shoulders of the Messenger’s camel while stones were falling on him, declaring, `O Allah’s Messenger! We were only engaged in idle talk and jesting,’ while the Messenger of Allah was reciting,
(“Was it at Allah, and His Ayat and His Messenger that you were mocking”) ﴿9:65﴾.”’ Allah said,
(Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed.) on account of your statement and mocking,
(If We pardon some of you, We will punish others among you) for not all of you will be forgiven, some will have to taste the torment,
(because they were criminals), they were criminals because of this terrible, sinful statement.
(9:65) Should you question them what they were talking about, they would certainly say: “We were merely jesting and being playful.”[73] Tell them: “Was it Allah and His revelation and His Messenger that you were mocking?”
73. This refers to the hypocrites who used to make fun of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the true Muslims in their secret meetings when they were making preparations for the expedition to Tabuk. In this way, they used to discourage those Muslims who sincerely and honestly intended to go forth for Jihad. We learn many things in this connection from the traditions. For instance, in one of their meetings, when the hypocrites were having a gossip, one of them remarked, “I say: Do you think that the Romans are no better than the Arabs? You will see that in the near future these brave men will be bound with ropes.” Another responded to this, “What a fun it would be if after this each one of them is lashed with a hundred stripes.” Still another, ridiculing the preparations by the Prophet (peace be upon him) for the expedition, remarked, “Look at this man, and his preparations. He intends to go forth to conquer the forts in Syria and the Roman Empire.”
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