وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَكَانُوا۟ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ 6
Translations
And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.
Transliteration
Wa-idha hushira al-nasu kanu lahum a'da-an wa kanu bi-ibadatihim kafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when those who were worshipped besides Allah (idols, saints, false deities) will disown their worshippers and deny any association with the worship directed toward them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the false objects of worship will become enemies to those who worshipped them, and they will completely reject and deny the acts of worship performed in their names, exposing the futility of shirk (polytheism) on that Day.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ahqaf is a Meccan surah that addresses the polytheists of Mecca and their false religious practices. This ayah appears within a section (46:4-6) that refutes polytheism and highlights the oneness of Allah. The context emphasizes how the Day of Judgment will reveal the absolute falsehood of associating partners with Allah.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned about the deception of false worship: 'The most wretched person is he who has two gods; he is not content with one.' Additionally, Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:28 is directly connected, describing how idols will deny knowledge of their worshippers' devotion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that worshipping anything besides Allah—whether idols, individuals, or desires—will result in betrayal and abandonment on the Day of Judgment. Believers should ensure their worship is sincere and directed solely to Allah, for only He is worthy of devotion and will never abandon His servants.
Related Ayahs
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْىَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْـِۧىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’ān. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen attentively." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.
وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَهُمْ عَن دُعَآئِهِمْ غَـٰفِلُونَ
And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allāh those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection [i.e., never], and they, of their invocation, are unaware.
قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَآ أَدْرِى مَا يُفْعَلُ بِى وَلَا بِكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
Say, "I am not something original among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner."