إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 139
Translations
Indeed, those [worshippers] - destroyed is that in which they are [engaged], and worthless is whatever they were doing."
Transliteration
Inna haʾulaʾi mutabbaru maa hum fīhi wa-bāṭilu maa kānū yaʿmalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, spoken by Prophet Musa (Moses) to the Israelites regarding their worship of the golden calf, declares that whatever the calf-worshippers possess of wealth and status is destined for destruction, and all their deeds of idolatry are false and void. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this demonstrates the inevitable ruin of those who abandon Allah's guidance for false objects of worship, regardless of their material attachments or efforts in pursuit of falsehood.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Surah Al-A'raf describing the incident of the golden calf, which occurred when Prophet Musa left the Israelites for forty days to receive the Torah. During his absence, they were led astray by Samiri into crafting and worshipping a golden calf. The ayah reflects the divine verdict upon this grievous act of shirk (polytheism) and serves as a timeless warning against abandoning monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best speech is the Book of Allah (Quran)' (Sahih Muslim 1338). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant thinks of Me' relates to the consequence of false beliefs and actions deviating from Allah's path.
Themes
Key Lesson
No matter how much effort, wealth, or worldly investment is devoted to falsehood and disobedience, it is ultimately doomed to destruction and bears no spiritual fruit. Believers should ensure their actions align with tawhid (monotheism) and divine guidance, as only deeds rooted in sincere faith in Allah possess lasting value.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
They said, "We have been harmed before you came to us and after you have come to us." He said, "Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land and see how you will do."
وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا ۖ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ وَٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوٓا۟ أَن تِلْكُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allāh had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do."
وَٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا وَءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.