(Revealed after Hijrah)
This also is a Medinite Surah, having been revealed, as its subject-matter shows, sometime after the Battle of Uhud. Whereas the preceding Surah had specifically dealt with the Jews of Medina, this Surah deals with other enemies of Islam—the Hypocrites, and exposes their evil designs, their infidelity and dishonesty, and condemns their loud professions of faith as false and treacherous. They are the real enemies of Islam, says the Surah, since they try to deceive Muslims by their oaths and their false professions of faith, using them as a screen for that purpose. They have, by their evil designs and nefarious activities, condemned themselves beyond redemption. They mistakenly think that, like themselves, the Companions of the Holy Prophet are a band of self-seekers who will leave him when their material interests so demanded. The Surah closes with the exhortation to Muslims that they should spend their wealth in the cause of God, before the time comes when Islam will no longer need their money.