إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ 23
Translations
However, he who turns away and disbelieves
Transliteration
Illa man tawalla wa kafara
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the exception to Allah's mercy and guidance—those who turn away (tawalla) and reject faith (kafara) will not benefit from the message. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse concludes Surah Al-Ghashiyah by establishing that Allah's signs and warnings are clear, yet those who willfully reject and turn away from them bear full responsibility for their rejection. The phrase represents the final consequence for those who choose disbelief and aversion over submission to Allah's guidance.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ghashiyah is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Quraysh were actively rejecting the Prophet's message. This ayah appears at the end of the surah as a concluding statement about the fate of those who persistently reject Allah's signs despite their clarity. It contextualizes the preceding verses about the rewards of the righteous and the punishment of the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The concept of turning away from guidance is referenced in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned about those who hear the Qur'an but turn away from it. Additionally, Surah Al-Ghashiyah's theme connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the Day of Judgment and the different states of people based on their acceptance or rejection of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's guidance is accessible to all, but ultimate salvation depends on our conscious choice to accept it with sincere hearts—those who willfully reject truth despite its clarity bear the full burden of that decision. It teaches accountability and the importance of not turning away from Allah's signs once they become clear to us.