وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُوَلِّى بَعْضَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَعْضًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ 129
Translations
And thus will We make some of the wrongdoers allies of others for what they used to earn.
Transliteration
Wa-kadhālika nuwallī ba'ḍa al-ẓālimīna ba'ḍan bimā kānū yaksibūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys that Allah allows oppressors and wrongdoers to be ruled over by other oppressors as a divine consequence of their own misdeeds. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this represents a punishment from Allah whereby tyrants are placed under the dominion of other tyrants, creating a cycle of oppression that reflects the principle of divine justice—those who commit evil attract evil governance upon themselves. This serves as both a punishment in this world and a manifestation of Allah's wisdom in allowing people to experience the natural consequences of their transgressions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am during a period addressing polytheism and divine justice. It contextualizes the broader theme of the surah regarding how Allah guides and withholds guidance based on people's actions and beliefs. The verse fits within discussions of how societies and individuals face consequences for their rejection of truth and moral corruption.
Related Hadiths
The principle relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When you see that the people have started to oppress one another and break ties of kinship, then dust will cover your faces.' This reflects how oppressive societies invite further degradation through unjust rulers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that injustice and oppression carry inherent consequences—both individually and collectively—as part of Allah's just system. For modern readers, it emphasizes that upholding justice and morality is not merely a religious obligation but essential for creating righteous societies, lest we find ourselves under the rule of those who reflect our own corruption.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.
وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَاسِرَةٌ
And [some] faces, that Day, will be contorted,
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell],