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
وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلرِّجْزُ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ ۖ لَئِن كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا ٱلرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
And when the punishment descended upon them, they said, "O Moses, invoke for us your Lord by what He has promised you. If you [can] remove the punishment from us, we will surely believe you, and we will send with you the Children of Israel."
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِأَخِى وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِى رَحْمَتِكَ ۖ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
[Moses] said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful."
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلطُّوفَانَ وَٱلْجَرَادَ وَٱلْقُمَّلَ وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ وَٱلدَّمَ ءَايَـٰتٍ مُّفَصَّلَـٰتٍ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.