وَتَرَىٰ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَأَكْلِهِمُ ٱلسُّحْتَ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 62
Translations
And you see many of them hastening into sin and aggression and the devouring of [what is] unlawful. How wretched is what they have been doing.
Transliteration
Wa tara kathiran minhum yusāri'ūn fil-ithm wa al-'udwān wa aklihim al-suḥt. La-bi'sa mā kānū ya'malūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the behavior of certain people (referring to the hypocrites and those who rejected truth) who eagerly rush toward sin, transgression, and consuming unlawful wealth (suḥt). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that suḥt specifically refers to earnings through haram means—such as bribery, usury, theft, and fraud—and that this ayah exposes how some people actively compete in wrongdoing rather than righteousness. The concluding statement emphasizes Allah's strong disapproval of such deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan context of Surah Al-Ma'idah, which addresses the behavior of hypocrites and those who reject Allah's guidance despite clear signs. It follows discussions about the People of the Book and those who claim faith while their actions contradict Islamic principles. The broader context concerns the moral corruption of certain communities during the Prophet's time.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever is patient during hardship and refrains from haram earnings, Allah will grant him honor' - a principle reinforced through various hadith collections emphasizing the prohibition of ill-gotten wealth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers to be vigilant against the subtle trap of gradually accepting unlawful practices and to compete instead in righteousness. It reminds us that Allah sees not only our outward actions but also our eagerness and intention—encouraging Muslims to audit their sources of income and ensure all earnings are lawfully and ethically obtained.
Related Ayahs
لَيْسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُوٓا۟ إِذَا مَا ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّأَحْسَنُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allāh and believe and do righteous deeds, and then fear Allāh and believe, and then fear Allāh and do good; and Allāh loves the doers of good.
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
So will they not repent to Allāh and seek His forgiveness? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَتَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَىٰٓ أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآئِرَةٌ ۚ فَعَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِٱلْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَيُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَسَرُّوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ
So you see those in whose hearts is disease [i.e., hypocrisy] hastening into [association with] them, saying, "We are afraid a misfortune may strike us." But perhaps Allāh will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful.
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّ فِيهَا قَوْمًا جَبَّارِينَ وَإِنَّا لَن نَّدْخُلَهَا حَتَّىٰ يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّا دَٰخِلُونَ
They said, "O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it; but if they leave it, then we will enter."