And whenever a sūrah is revealed, they look at each other, [as if saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they dismiss themselves. Allāh has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
Verse 127 of Surah At-Tawbah (9:127), a Medinan surah, is in juz 11, on page 207 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 127 of Surah At-Tawbah
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Tafsir of verse 127
Al-Mukhtasar
Whenever Allah reveals a sūrah to the Messenger (peace be upon him), mentioning the states of the hypocrites, the hypocrites would look at one another, saying ‘Does anyone see you?’ If no one is looking at them, they leave the gathering. Allah turned their hearts away from guidance and goodness, and leaves them, because they are a people who do not understand.
Whenever a Chapter is revealed, they look at one another [saying], “Is anyone watching you?” Then they slip away92. Allah has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not understand.
Notes
[92] They would exchange glances as if saying to one another: “Who is this person who sees you while you plot in secret and tells Muhammad (ﷺ) about it?” Instead of paying heed, they would turn away reverting to their ways.
And whenever there comes down a Sûrah (chapter from the Qur’ân), they look at one another (saying): "Does any one see you?" Then they turn away. Allâh has turned their hearts (from the light) because they are a people that understand not.
And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say): Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.
Whenever there cometh down a Sura, they look at each other, (saying), "Doth anyone see you?" Then they turn aside: Allah hath turned their hearts (from the light); for they are a people that understand not.
And whenever a chapter is revealed, they cast glances at one another: Does any one see you? Then they turn away: Allah has turned away their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
And whenever a sûrah is sent down, they look one at another, (Literally: some of them looked at some "others") "Does anyone ever see you?" Then they turn about. Allah has turned their hearts about, for that they are people who do not comprehend.
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, why do you harm me while you certainly know that I am the messenger of Allāh to you?" And when they deviated, Allāh caused their hearts to deviate. And Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
Verses with similar wording
They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, there are among them [i.e., the hypocrites] those who say, "Which of you has this increased in faith?" As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing.
O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are steadfast], they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.
