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
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا۟ بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allāh commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant."
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ
And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allāh to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ
And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."