ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِۦ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ ۖ وَنُذِيقُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ 9
Translations
Twisting his neck [in arrogance] to mislead [people] from the way of Allāh. For him in the world is disgrace, and We will make him taste on the Day of Resurrection the punishment of the Burning Fire [while it is said],
Transliteration
Thani 'itfihi liyudilla 'an sabili Allah, lahu fi al-dunya khizy wa nudhiqhu yawma al-qiyamati adhaba al-hariq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who turn away from the path of Allah with arrogance and pride, twisting their necks in defiance. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret 'thani 'itfihi' (turning his side/shoulder) as a metaphor for stubborn rejection and disdain toward divine guidance. The ayah warns that such people will face disgrace in this worldly life and will taste the punishment of the Hellfire on the Day of Judgment—a severe consequence for deliberate misguidance and leading others astray from Allah's path.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Hajj, a Medinan surah dealing with themes of pilgrimage, faith, and divine judgment. It appears in a passage addressing those who reject Allah's signs and turn away with arrogance, contextualizing the spiritual corruption of hearts that refuse guidance despite clear signs being presented to them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worst of people in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be the double-faced person who appears to some people with one face and to others with another face.' (Sahih Bukhari 3484) This relates to the theme of turning away and hypocrisy mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that rejection of truth driven by arrogance carries immediate social shame and ultimate divine punishment. Believers should examine their hearts for any tendency to dismiss guidance and remain humble before Allah's signs, recognizing that stubborn pride leads only to ruin in both worlds.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَيُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Do you not see that Allāh has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allāh, to the people, is Kind and Merciful.
لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى ٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ
For you therein [i.e., the animals marked for sacrifice] are benefits for a specified term; then their place of sacrifice is at the ancient House.
يُصْهَرُ بِهِۦ مَا فِى بُطُونِهِمْ وَٱلْجُلُودُ
By which is melted that within their bellies and [their] skins.
ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُوا۟ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا۟ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْأُمُورِ
[And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakāh and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allāh belongs the outcome of [all] matters.