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.