Tafsir of Hud 11:5

Surah Hud (11): Verse 5

{أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ}

Know that when the Almighty said: {And if you turn away}—meaning, turn away from His worship and obedience—{then I fear for you the punishment of a great Day}, He subsequently clarified that turning away inwardly is like turning away outwardly.

He said: {Behold, they fold up their breasts}—meaning, the disbelievers from the community of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)—{to hide themselves from Him}.

Know that the Almighty narrated two things about these disbelievers:

1. That they fold up their breasts: The word yathnūna (fold up/turn) means to bend or fold something. There are two interpretations (Wajh) for this phrase in the verse:

• Interpretation One: It is narrated that a group of polytheists said: "When we close our doors, draw our curtains, cover ourselves with our garments, and fold our breasts against Muhammad's enmity, how can He know about us?" Under this interpretation, the phrase {they fold up their breasts} is a metaphor for hypocrisy (nifāq). It is as if He is saying: They conceal what they manifest, intending to hide from Allah Almighty. Then, the statement {Behold, when they cover themselves with their garments} alerts us that they seek to hide from Him precisely when they cover themselves with their clothes.

• Interpretation Two: It is narrated that some disbelievers, when the Messenger of Allah passed by them, would turn their chests away, turn their backs, and cover themselves with their garments. The meaning is as if He is saying: They act evasively toward Him to hide from Him when they cover themselves with their clothes, so that they do not hear the Messenger's words or what he recites of the Qur'an, and so they can say within themselves whatever slander they wish.

The word {أَلَا} (Behold/Indeed) serves as a warning. First, He alerts us that they turn away from Him to hide. Then, the word {أَلَا} is repeated to draw attention to the mention of hiding, specifying the time of their concealment: {when they cover themselves with their garments}. It is as if He is saying: Behold, they turn away from Him to hide from Allah; behold, they hide when they cover themselves with their garments.

Then, He mentioned that their attempt to hide is futile by saying: {He knows what they conceal and what they reveal}.

{وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ}

{And there is no creature moving on the earth except that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its resting place and its deposit. All are in a clear record.}