وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 68
Translations
And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.
Transliteration
Wa-idha ra'ayta alladhina yakhuduna fi ayatina fa-a'rid 'anhum hatta yakhuduu fi hadith ghayrihi. Wa-imma yunsiyannak al-shaytan fa-la taq'ud ba'da al-dhikra ma'a al-qawm al-zalimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to turn away from those who engage in frivolous discourse and mockery of Allah's signs, until they cease and change the subject. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this teaches Muslims to avoid prolonged association with those who ridicule the Quran and Islamic teachings, and if Satan causes forgetfulness, one should immediately leave the company of transgressors. The ayah establishes both a principle of spiritual protection and a practical boundary for believers in their social interactions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am, which was revealed in Mecca and addresses polytheists and those who mocked the Quranic message. The specific context relates to the pagan Meccans who would deliberately ridicule Allah's revelations in the Prophet's presence, making this guidance essential for the early Muslim community's spiritual preservation during persecution.
Related Hadiths
The principle is supported by the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed companions not to sit with those who engage in futile talk and mockery of religion. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about the importance of avoiding gatherings where Allah's signs are mocked.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that protecting one's faith requires practical wisdom—sometimes this means removing ourselves from environments where religious truths are derided, and being vigilant against Satan's attempts to make us forget these boundaries. For modern Muslims, it emphasizes that maintaining strong conviction means being selective about the company we keep and the spaces where we spend our time.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ
And He is Allāh, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.
۞ قُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَـٰقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."
قُلْ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَامِلٌ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Say, "O my people, work according to your position; [for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed."
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say, "Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers."