This phrase translates to “they are the ones, in fact, that are really interested in showing off”.
The Showbiz of Religion:
The worst people on earth are those who demonstrate their faith for PR purposes.
Hadith on Showing Off:
Imam Ahmad recorded from Amr bin Murrah that he said, “We were sitting with Abu Ubaydah (radi allahu anhu) when the people mentioned showing-off. A man known as Abu Yazid said, “I heard ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr saying that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever tries to make the people hear of his deed, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), the one who hears his creation, will hear it and make him despised and degraded.”
Hadith from Sahih Muslim
Jundub (radi allahu anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as saying: He who wants to publicise (his deeds), Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) will publicise (his humility), and he who makes a hypocritical display (of his deeds), Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) will make a display of him.
The Quran’s criticism of Makkah is timeless. Also, this disease doesn’t exist just in Makkah. It is all over the world.
Wake-Up Call for the Ummah
This is Quran’s way of teaching the Muslim ummah to be politically savvy i.e. to not be manipulated by PR, media coverage, public appearances etc. People that are not savvy go with these appearances and place their trust in the wrong people. Through the Quran, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is waking up not just the Muslims but the entire Meccan society. Similarly, we are supposed to look at the world with our eyes open and help the rest of the citizens of the nation open their eyes. It doesn’t matter what propaganda people have against us or against Islam. Even the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was called insane, liar, threat to society etc. But he didn’t go on a campaign defending himself and kept his focus on the mission. We are supposed to do the same and not get distracted. Often, these distractions become our mission whereas the Quran is asking us to focus on much bigger things. The world is waiting for the ummah to wake up.
Meaning of Ayat #6
They are the ones, in fact, that are really interested in showing off.