مَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِىَ لَهُۥ ۚ وَيَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ 186
Translations
Whoever Allāh sends astray - there is no guide for him. And He leaves them in their transgression, wandering blindly.
Transliteration
Man yuḍlil-Allāhu falā hādiya lahu wa-yadharu-hum fī ṭughyānihim ya'mahūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys that whoever Allah allows to go astray has no guide to bring them back to the right path, and Allah leaves such people in their rebellion and delusion, wandering aimlessly in error. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this divine abandonment (khidhlan) is a consequence of the person's own rejection of truth and persistent disobedience; Allah does not wrong anyone but rather responds to their choice by withdrawing His guidance. The word 'ya'mahūn' (wandering blindly) suggests their spiritual blindness despite having intellect, indicating a state where hearts are sealed from understanding divine signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-A'raf, which frequently addresses the Quraysh's rejection of Prophet Muhammad's message despite clear signs. The broader context (verses 178-186) discusses how some people's hearts and ears are sealed due to their own rejection of faith, reflecting the Meccan period's emphasis on warning those who turn away from divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah desires good for His servant, He grants him understanding of the religion' (Sahih Bukhari 71). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the 'day when deeds will not avail' relates to those left in misguidance without opportunity to return to guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that guidance is a gift from Allah that requires our sincere seeking and receptiveness; persistent rejection of truth leads to spiritual hardening where even clear signs become ineffective. For believers, it emphasizes the importance of safeguarding one's faith and continuously seeking Allah's guidance, lest hearts become sealed from understanding divine wisdom.