وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـٰنٍ مَّرِيدٍ 3
Translations
And of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil.
Transliteration
Wa mina an-nasi man yujadilu fi-Allah bi-ghayri ilmin wa yattabi'u kulla shayṭanin mariid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who argue and dispute about Allah's religion without knowledge, following every rebellious devil who misleads them. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that such disputation stems from ignorance and arrogance, as these individuals abandon divine guidance in favor of satanic whispers. The phrase 'every rebellious devil' refers to both spiritual shaytans and human devils who spread misguidance.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina, this ayah is part of the broader context of Surah Al-Hajj which addresses theological disputes and clarifies matters of faith. The surah was revealed during a period when various groups—including polytheists, people of the book, and hypocrites—were engaging in vain arguments about monotheism and the message of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This ayah specifically addresses the futility and danger of such baseless disputation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most hated of people to Allah are three: a man who quarrels in the Sacred Mosque, one who seeks revenge outside the limits set by Allah, and one who sheds blood unlawfully' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned against excessive argumentation in religious matters, stating that the worst among people are those who dispute about Allah without knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that sincere faith requires grounding in knowledge and avoiding blind following of opinions—whether from society or one's own desires. In our modern age of information overload and polarization, believers should prioritize seeking authentic Islamic knowledge and avoiding fruitless debates that lack basis in the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Related Ayahs
لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ
That they may witness [i.e., attend] benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allāh on known [i.e., specific] days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And for how many a city did I prolong enjoyment while it was committing wrong. Then I seized it, and to Me is the [final] destination.
ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَٰتٌ وَمَسَـٰجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allāh." And were it not that Allāh checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allāh is much mentioned [i.e., praised]. And Allāh will surely support those who support Him [i.e., His cause]. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ وَٱلْمُقِيمِى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and [to] the patient over what has afflicted them, and the establishers of prayer and those who spend from what We have provided them.