وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ نَزْغٌ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 200
Translations
And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa-immaa yanzighannak mina ash-shaytaani nazghun fa-sta'idh billah; innahu samee'un 'aleem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believer to seek refuge in Allah whenever Satan attempts to tempt or whisper evil suggestions into their heart. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'nazgh' (provocation/temptation) from Satan is inevitable for all believers, and the prescribed remedy is immediate recourse to Allah's protection through the ta'awwudh (seeking refuge). The ayah concludes with Allah's attributes of being As-Samee' (All-Hearing) and Al-'Aleem (All-Knowing), assuring that Allah hears the believer's plea and knows their sincere intention to resist evil.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan chapter that extensively discusses the reality of Satan's enmity toward humanity and the spiritual struggle (jihad) believers face. It is part of a passage addressing the Quraysh's rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Satan's role in leading people astray, providing practical guidance for all believers facing similar trials.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Shaitan sits in the path of the son of Adam. He sits on the path of Islam and says "Do not become Muslim." The son of Adam disobeys and becomes Muslim. Then he sits on the path of emigration and says "Do not emigrate." The son of Adam disobeys and emigrates...' (Sahih Muslim). Also relevant: 'When any of you feels anger, let him keep silent' and seek refuge in Allah (Ahmad and others), demonstrating the practical application of this principle.
Themes
Key Lesson
When faced with temptation, doubt, or whispers of evil, the believer's immediate recourse should be sincere supplication and trust in Allah rather than internal struggle alone; this teaches reliance on divine aid and recognition that resisting Satan requires both personal effort and divine assistance. This principle remains eternally relevant, reminding modern believers that spiritual vigilance and direct invocation of Allah's protection are essential tools in navigating a world full of distractions and temptations.
Related Ayahs
وَسْـَٔلْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ ۙ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ
And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient.
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allāh has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe."
فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَـٰقُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And there followed them successors who inherited the Scripture [while] taking the commodities of this lower life and saying, "It will be forgiven for us." And if an offer like it comes to them, they will [again] take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] taken from them that they would not say about Allāh except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allāh, so will you not use reason?
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.