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
وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِىَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِىٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ
And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me."
فَإِن لَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَكَ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But if they do not respond to you - then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allāh? Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا يُجْبَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَٰتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رِّزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they [i.e., the Quraysh] say, "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept from our land." Have We not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ بَصَآئِرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded.