Surah Al-Qalam, Verse 8

Tafsir of 68:8

Prohibition of giving in to the Pressure of the Disbelievers and Their Suggestions, and that They like to meet in the Middle of the Path Allah says, `just as We have favored you and given you the upright legislation and great (standard of) character,' فَلاَ تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ - وَدُّواْ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ (So, do not obey the deniers. They wish that you should compromise with them, so they (too) would compromise with you.) Ibn `Abbas said, "That you would permit them (their idolatry) and they also would permit you (to practice your religion)." Mujahid said, وَدُّواْ لَوْ تُدْهِنُ فَيُدْهِنُونَ (They wish that you should compromise with them, so they (too) would compromise with you.) "This means that you should be quiet about their gods and abandon the truth that you are upon." Then Allah says, وَلاَ تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلاَّفٍ مَّهِينٍ (And do not obey every Hallaf (one who swears much) Mahin (liar or worthless person).) This is because the liar, due to his weakness and his disgracefulness, only seeks protection in his false oaths which he boldly swears to while using Allah's Names, and he uses them (false oaths) all the time and out of place (i.e., unnecessarily).…

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged)