لِّيَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 53
Translations
[That is] so He may make what Satan throws in [i.e., asserts] a trial for those within whose hearts is disease and those hard of heart. And indeed, the wrongdoers are in extreme dissension.
Transliteration
Liyaj'ala maa yulqee ash-shaytaanu fitnatan lilladhina fee quloobihim maradun walqaasiyati quloobuhum wa inna adh-dhalimeen lafee shiqaqin ba'eed
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains that Allah permits Satan's whispers and insinuations to become a trial for those whose hearts are diseased with doubt, hypocrisy, or weakness of faith, and for those whose hearts are hardened and sealed. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse demonstrates Allah's divine wisdom in testing His servants—Satan's temptations cannot harm the pure-hearted believers, but serve as a sieve to expose the weakness of those with spiritual ailments. The verse concludes that the wrongdoers are in deep opposition and discord with Allah's guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj's discussion of divine revelation and the conflict between truth and falsehood. It addresses the broader Medinan struggle between believers and those with hypocrisy or hardened hearts who resisted the Prophet's message. The verse provides context for understanding why some accept faith while others reject it—attributing this to the state of their hearts rather than a deficiency in the message itself.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The hearts of all the sons of Adam are between two fingers of the Most Merciful as one heart. He turns them as He wishes' (Sahih Muslim 2654). Also relevant: 'Verily, an evil soul whispers to the son of Adam, and an angel whispers to him' (Tirmidhi 2889), illustrating Satan's role in temptation.
Themes
Key Lesson
A believer's protection against Satan's whispers lies not in the absence of temptation, but in maintaining a healthy, pure heart through faith, remembrance of Allah, and obedience. This ayah teaches us that our spiritual state—whether our hearts are diseased or sound—determines whether trials become stepping stones to righteousness or stumbling blocks to ruin.
Related Ayahs
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.
مَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
That is because Allāh causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night and because Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
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.