47:26
This, because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed, “We will obey you in part of (this)
matter”; but Allah knows their (inner) secrets.
Classical interpretations describe individuals who had become resistant to acknowledging truth because of their duplicity and lack of sincerity. Rather than openly opposing the cause of God, they secretly cooperated with those who opposed it, promising partial allegiance while outwardly remaining within the Muslim community. In doing so, they believed they could serve their allies more effectively as informants or as sources of doubt within the community. However, such behavior is portrayed as misguided and ultimately ineffective, as their attempts at deception cannot succeed against the divine order described in the Qur’an. This conduct is generally interpreted within Qurʾānic exegesis as a characteristic of hypocrisy, wherein individuals outwardly profess loyalty while covertly undermining the principles they claim to support.
References:
Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. Translation and Commentary of the Quran. (surah 47 verse 26).