وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠ 67
Translations
And they will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the [right] way.
Transliteration
Wa qaalū rabbana innā ata'nā sādatanā wa kubarā'anā fa-aḍallūna al-sabīla
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the words of the inhabitants of Hell on the Day of Judgment, where they attempt to shift blame for their misguidance to their leaders and elders, saying: 'Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our great ones, and they led us astray from the way.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, while this statement contains partial truth about following leaders into misguidance, it does not absolve the followers of personal responsibility, as each soul remains accountable before Allah for its choices and actions. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this excuse will be rejected because individuals possess intellect and the ability to discern truth from falsehood.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ahzab (33), a Medinan surah that addresses various social, military, and spiritual matters of the Muslim community. It comes within a broader passage (33:66-68) describing scenes of the Day of Judgment, illustrating the dialogue between the condemned and Allah regarding their accountability. The context addresses the general human tendency to follow leaders blindly, a concern relevant to the developing Islamic community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Each of you is a shepherd and each of you will be questioned about his flock' (Sahih Bukhari 893), emphasizing that leaders bear responsibility. Additionally, the hadith 'There is no obedience to creation in disobedience to the Creator' (Ahmad, An-Nasa'i) establishes that blind following of leaders in sin is impermissible.
Themes
Key Lesson
While we may be influenced by those around us, each individual bears direct responsibility before Allah for their beliefs and actions; claiming ignorance or blaming leaders will not be accepted as an excuse on the Day of Judgment. This teaches believers to independently seek truth, exercise critical thinking, and never blindly follow anyone—even respected figures—in matters that contradict Islamic guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
And exalt Him morning and afternoon.
وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Allāh intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.
وَرَدَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۚ وَكَفَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلْقِتَالَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ قَوِيًّا عَزِيزًا
And Allāh repelled those who disbelieved, in their rage, not having obtained any good. And sufficient was Allāh for the believers in battle, and ever is Allāh Powerful and Exalted in Might.
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And [remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, "Allāh and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion,"