وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ 32
Translations
But [instead], he denied and turned away.
Transliteration
Wa-lākin kaddaba wa-tawallā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the stubbornness and rejection of the disbeliever who, despite being presented with clear signs and truth, chooses to deny it and turn away. Ibn Kathir notes that this reflects the arrogance and willful ignorance of those who reject the message of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The dual verbs 'kaddaba' (denied) and 'tawallā' (turned away) highlight both intellectual rejection and volitional withdrawal from guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qiyamah's discussion of the Day of Resurrection and humanity's various responses to divine guidance. The surah contrasts the believer's response with the stubborn disbeliever's rejection, illustrating the different paths people choose when confronted with truth.
Related Hadiths
The hadith from Sahih Muslim (2644) where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it,' relates to the importance of accepting and spreading the message that some reject. Additionally, the hadith about the sealed hearts (Quran 2:7) connects to the spiritual consequence of persistent denial and turning away.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that turning away from divine guidance is a choice, not an inevitability, and that persistent denial despite clear signs leads to spiritual loss. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to remain open to truth and to avoid the pride and stubbornness that prevents people from accepting guidance.
Related Ayahs
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
See how they will lie about themselves. And lost from them will be what they used to invent.
وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَيَقْذِفُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
And they had already disbelieved in it before and would assault the unseen from a place far away.
قُتِلَ ٱلْخَرَّٰصُونَ
Destroyed are the misinformers
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَءَاتَىٰنِى مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَن يَنصُرُنِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُۥ ۖ فَمَا تَزِيدُونَنِى غَيْرَ تَخْسِيرٍ
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has given me mercy from Himself, who would protect me from Allāh if I disobeyed Him? So you would not increase me except in loss.