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
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ
But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allāh is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن جَآءَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنْ عِندِهِۦ وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And Moses said, "My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed."
وَلَوْلَآ أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, "Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?"...
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother [i.e., principal city] a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.