وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا 29
Translations
And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.
Transliteration
Wa qulil-haqqu mir rabbikum, faman shaa fa-lyu'min wa man shaa fa-lyakfur. Inna a'tadna liz-zalimina naran ahata bihim surādiquhā. Wa in yastughithū yugāthū bimāin kal-muhl yaswī al-wujūh. Bi'sa ash-sharāb wa sā'at murṭafaqā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to proclaim the truth from Allah, emphasizing human free will in choosing belief or disbelief, while warning of severe consequences for those who reject. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse does not contradict divine decree but rather establishes human responsibility and accountability; the subsequent description of hellfire emphasizes the reality of punishment for those who willfully turn away from truth. The vivid imagery of fire encircling the damned and their plea for water answered with molten liquid illustrates the justice and severity of divine punishment for persistent wrongdoing.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet faced rejection and mockery from the Quraysh. This ayah comes within the context of Surah Al-Kahf, which emphasizes faith, patience in the face of opposition, and the ultimate triumph of truth over falsehood. The surah addresses believers being pressured to abandon their faith, providing reassurance that the choice to believe or reject rests with individuals, but consequences are absolute.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Everyone will find easy what they were created for' (Sahih Bukhari 3331), relating to the theme of human choice and accountability. Also relevant: 'Actions are judged by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907), emphasizing personal responsibility in one's choices.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that while Allah grants us the freedom to choose belief or disbelief, this freedom comes with absolute accountability for our choices and their eternal consequences. In our modern context, it serves as a powerful call to sincere reflection on our spiritual direction and a sobering reminder that rejecting truth is not without serious repercussions in the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا مَنَعَ ٱلنَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ قُبُلًا
And nothing has prevented the people from believing when guidance came to them and from asking forgiveness of their Lord except that there [must] befall them the [accustomed] precedent of the former peoples or that the punishment should come [directly] before them.
قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا
He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention [i.e., explanation]."
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَرْضًا
And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, on display -