يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ 168
Translations
O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nasu kulu mimma fi al-ardi halalan tayyiban wa la tattabi'u khutuwati ash-shaytani innahu lakum 'aduwwun mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses all of humanity, permitting consumption of what is lawful (halal) and good (tayyib) from the earth's provisions while forbidding the pursuit of Satan's pathways. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the verse establishes the principle that Allah has made sustenance available and lawful for humanity, and encourages us to enjoy these blessings while maintaining spiritual consciousness and avoiding both haram (forbidden) foods and the sinful ways Satan tempts us toward. The 'steps of Satan' refer to gradual descent into disobedience through seemingly small transgressions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah, which addresses the Muslim community on matters of law, ethics, and daily conduct. It follows verses about the Qibla change and precedes dietary laws, establishing a foundational principle: that halal sustenance is a divine gift and responsibility, with Satan as humanity's declared enemy seeking to misguide our choices in consumption and behavior.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The flesh that grows from haram sustenance, the Fire is more deserving of it' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing the spiritual consequences of unlawful consumption.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah has provided abundantly for our needs through lawful means, and our consumption should reflect consciousness of this divine trust and awareness of Satan's schemes to lead us astray—whether through unlawful food, greed, or other spiritual pitfalls. It teaches that exercising restraint and choosing the halal path is both a practical obedience and a spiritual defense against corruption.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوْا۟ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۗ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they [i.e., all parties] agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allāh and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allāh knows and you know not.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَهُمْ وَكَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم مَّا عَرَفُوا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ فَلَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And when there came to them a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] from Allāh confirming that which was with them - although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved - but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allāh will be upon the disbelievers.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُۥ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But, [in fact], most of them do not believe.