قُتِلَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَآ أَكْفَرَهُۥ 17
Translations
Destroyed [i.e., cursed] is man; how disbelieving is he.
Transliteration
Qutila al-insanu ma akfarah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses exasperation at human ingratitude and disbelief, with 'qutila' (may he be destroyed/cursed) being an exclamation of censure rather than a literal curse. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that Allah is condemning the human tendency toward extreme ingratitude and rejection of divine signs, despite the abundance of evidence in creation. The ayah emphasizes that human disbelief stems from an astounding lack of gratitude and recognition of Allah's blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah 'Abasa, a Meccan surah that rebukes the Prophet (peace be upon him) for turning away from a blind man (Ibn Mas'ud) to attend to wealthy Quraysh leaders. The broader context critiques human arrogance and ingratitude, with this particular ayah reflecting the surah's theme of condemning those who turn away from guidance and persist in disbelief despite clear signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, and ingratitude to parents.' (Sahih Bukhari 2320). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing gratitude: 'Whoever is not grateful to people is not grateful to Allah' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4811).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a profound reminder that ingratitude and heedlessness of Allah's blessings are fundamental spiritual diseases; believers should cultivate constant awareness of divine favors and respond with gratitude, humility, and acceptance of guidance.