قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ 18
Translations
[Allāh] said, "Depart from it [i.e., Paradise], reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."
Transliteration
Qāla akhruJ minhā madhūman madhūrā, liman tabi'aka minhum la-amlā'anna jahannama minkum ajma'īn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Iblis to exit Paradise in disgrace and humiliation as punishment for his disobedience and arrogance. Allah then declares that He will fill Hell with Iblis and all of his followers among mankind and jinn who obey him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah establishes the consequence of rejecting divine guidance and following Satan's whispers—a warning applicable to all who choose rebellion against Allah's commands.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Iblis's expulsion from Paradise (Surah Al-A'raf: 11-18), which occurs in the context of the story of creation and humanity's elevated status. The surah addresses the Meccan polytheists, and this account serves as a foundational warning about the consequences of pride, disobedience, and leading others astray from the path of Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah created the creation, He wrote in His Book: My mercy will overcome My wrath.' (Sahih Bukhari 3194). Additionally, regarding Iblis's rejection: 'Iblis refused and was arrogant' (18:34), emphasizing that arrogance is the root of damnation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that rejecting divine guidance through pride and arrogance leads to inevitable punishment, while also reminding us that we have the power to resist Satan's influence by choosing obedience to Allah. For believers, it is a sobering reminder to remain humble, seek Allah's guidance, and protect ourselves from following those who lead us away from righteousness.
Related Ayahs
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, "Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds.
قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّشْرِكِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators [of others with Allāh].
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌۢ بِٱلْقَارِعَةِ
Thamūd and ʿAad denied the Striking Calamity [i.e., the Resurrection].
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.