وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 56
Translations
And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allāh is near to the doers of good.
Transliteration
Wa la tufsidu fi al-ardi ba'da islahiha wa-d'uhu khawfan wa-tama'an. Inna rahmata Allahi qareebun mina al-muhsineen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to abstain from causing corruption on earth after it has been reformed, and to call upon Allah with both fear and hope—two complementary spiritual states. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this verse emphasizes environmental stewardship and the spiritual dimension of worship, as Allah's mercy is near to those who do good (al-muhsineen). The command to invoke Allah with fear (of His punishment) and hope (for His reward) represents the balanced emotional approach to devotion in Islam.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the middle section of Surah Al-A'raf, which was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam. It is part of a broader thematic unit addressing moral conduct and the consequences of human actions, following the mention of Prophet Salih and the people of Thamud who corrupted the earth despite receiving clear signs from Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever plants a tree, from it Allah will give him reward' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant is the hadith: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), as good conduct (ihsan) encompasses all aspects of life including environmental responsibility.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims have a sacred responsibility to preserve and maintain the earth rather than corrupt it, understanding that their actions have consequences both in this life and the next. The cultivation of a balanced spiritual state—combining reverential fear of Allah with hopeful aspiration for His mercy—forms the foundation for righteous action and ethical conduct in all matters.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَٱكْتُبْ لَنَا فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنْ أَشَآءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allāh] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakāh and those who believe in Our verses-
وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ
And recite to them, [O Muḥammad], the news of him to whom We gave [knowledge of] Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became of the deviators.
وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ ٱلْجَهْرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ
And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُۥ لِيُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَـٰهِرُونَ
And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" [Pharaoh] said, "We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them."