وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ 205
Translations
And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.
Transliteration
Wa-idha tawalla sa'a fil-ardi liyufsida fiha wa-yuhlik al-hartha wa-al-nasl; wa-Allahu la yuhibb al-fasad
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrite who, when turning away from the believers, hastens throughout the land to spread corruption, destroying crops and livestock—the means of livelihood. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this refers to those who outwardly appear righteous but inwardly work to undermine the Muslim community and society. Allah's concluding statement that He does not love corruption emphasizes the severity of such destructive behavior and its incompatibility with divine will.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's broader discussion of hypocrites (munafiqun) and their characteristics, revealed in Medina where the Muslim community faced internal threats from those who pretended faith while harboring enmity. The context follows descriptions of hypocrites' deceptive nature and precedes further warnings about their spiritual blindness and waywardness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever removes an obstacle from the road, Allah will reward him with Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari). This contrasts with the ayah's description of those who actively create obstacles and corruption. Also relevant: 'The best of you are those who are most beneficial to others' (Sunan Ibn Majah), opposing the destructive character described here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers to be vigilant against those whose actions contradict their words, and to recognize that deliberate corruption of society and its resources is among the gravest moral failures. For modern readers, it emphasizes personal accountability: our true character is revealed by our actions when no one is watching, and we are called to be builders and protectors of community welfare, not agents of destruction.
Related Ayahs
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُۥ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
And whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vows - indeed, Allāh knows of it. And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَـٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, "Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time."