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
۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَلَمَّا رَجَعَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ غَضْبَـٰنَ أَسِفًا قَالَ بِئْسَمَا خَلَفْتُمُونِى مِنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ أَعَجِلْتُمْ أَمْرَ رَبِّكُمْ ۖ وَأَلْقَى ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ وَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِ أَخِيهِ يَجُرُّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ ۚ قَالَ ٱبْنَ أُمَّ إِنَّ ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱسْتَضْعَفُونِى وَكَادُوا۟ يَقْتُلُونَنِى فَلَا تُشْمِتْ بِىَ ٱلْأَعْدَآءَ وَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, "O son of my mother, indeed the people overpowered me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people."
قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."
وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوٓا۟ أَخْرِجُوهُم مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ
But the answer of his people was only that they said, "Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure."