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
قَالَ فَٱلْحَقُّ وَٱلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ
[Allāh] said, "The truth [is My oath], and the truth I say -
أَوْ تُسْقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ قَبِيلًا
Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allāh and the angels before [us]
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَعْسًا لَّهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
But those who disbelieve - for them is misery, and He will waste their deeds.
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَءَاتَىٰنِى رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَعُمِّيَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنُلْزِمُكُمُوهَا وَأَنتُمْ لَهَا كَـٰرِهُونَ
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I should be upon clear evidence from my Lord while He has given me mercy from Himself but it has been made unapparent to you, should we force it upon you while you are averse to it?