وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ 41
Translations
And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.
Transliteration
Wa ja'alnāhum a'immatan yad'ūna ilā an-nāri wa yawma al-qiyāmati lā yunṣarūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the leaders and guides of disbelief who call people towards the Hellfire through their false teachings and misguidence. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these are the chiefs of kufr who use their positions of influence to lead others astray, and on the Day of Judgment they will receive no help or support from anyone, bearing the consequences of their deviance and that of those they misled. The term 'a'immah' (leaders/imams) here signifies those who set the example and direction for others to follow in misguidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Qasas, which presents the story of Musa (Moses) and his struggle against Pharaoh's tyranny. The broader context discusses those who reject truth and lead nations into destruction. This particular ayah addresses the reality that those who hold power and use it to spread falsehood will face severe punishment and abandonment on the Day of Judgment, contrasting with the ultimate victory of the righteous.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward similar to that of its doer, and whoever leads someone to evil will have a burden of sin similar to that of its doer.' (Sahih Muslim 1893). This hadith complements the ayah by emphasizing the responsibility of those in positions of leadership and influence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a warning that positions of influence carry immense spiritual responsibility—those who use their authority to mislead others will face severe consequences without any support or intercession. For believers, it emphasizes the importance of carefully scrutinizing their leaders and sources of guidance, ensuring they align with truth and divine guidance rather than following those who lead toward destruction.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنْ أَلْقِ عَصَاكَ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ وَلَّىٰ مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ ۚ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَقْبِلْ وَلَا تَخَفْ ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْـَٔامِنِينَ
And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned in flight and did not return. [Allāh said], "O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure.
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِىٓ ۚ أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allāh had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked.
قَالَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱسْتَـْٔجِرْهُ ۖ إِنَّ خَيْرَ مَنِ ٱسْتَـْٔجَرْتَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْأَمِينُ
One of the women said, "O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy."
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرِى فَأَوْقِدْ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجْعَل لِّى صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars."