قُل لَّا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْخَبِيثُ وَٱلطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ ٱلْخَبِيثِ ۚ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 100
Translations
Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you." So fear Allāh, O you of understanding, that you may be successful.
Transliteration
Qul lā yastawī al-khabīth wa-al-ṭayyib wa-law a'jabaka kathratu al-khabīth. Fattaqū Allāh yā ulī al-albāb la'allakum tuflihūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that the evil (khabīth) and the good (ṭayyib) can never be equal, regardless of how abundant or appealing the evil may appear. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this applies to both literal matters (like lawful and unlawful foods) and spiritual matters (like believers and disbelievers, truth and falsehood). The ayah calls believers to piety and sound reasoning, warning against being deceived by the prevalence or glamour of corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in Surah Al-Ma'idah (a Medinan surah dealing with lawful and unlawful matters). It appears in the context of dietary laws and moral distinctions, addressing believers who must maintain discernment between what is permissible and impermissible, especially when societal pressures or abundance of forbidden things might tempt them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of the believer is like a date-palm tree, and the example of a bad person is like a bitter tree (Ar-Raqqah)' (Sahih Bukhari). This emphasizes the distinction between good and evil hearts. Additionally, the hadith about the lawful being clear and the unlawful being clear (Sahih Muslim 1599) complements this ayah's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must not be swayed by the prevalence, abundance, or apparent attractiveness of evil or forbidden things; true wisdom lies in recognizing inherent differences in quality and righteousness regardless of worldly circumstances. Using sound intellect guided by taqwa (God-consciousness) is essential for distinguishing between what truly benefits and what harms.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those are the companions of Hellfire.
يَهْدِى بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
By which Allāh guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.
مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat food. Look how We make clear to them the signs; then look how they are deluded.
لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلْأَيْمَـٰنَ ۖ فَكَفَّـٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـٰكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّـٰرَةُ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ۚ وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Allāh will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses [i.e., revealed law] that you may be grateful.