أَفَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَنۢ بَآءَ بِسَخَطٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 162
Translations
So is one who pursues the pleasure of Allāh like one who brings upon himself the anger of Allāh and whose refuge is Hell? And wretched is the destination.
Transliteration
Afamani ittaba'a ridwana Allahi kaman ba'a bisakhatin mina Allahi wa ma'waahu jahannamu wa bi'sa almaseeru
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical comparison between two contrasting paths: those who follow Allah's pleasure (ridwan) versus those who incur His wrath (sakhat). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the ayah emphasizes the fundamental distinction between the obedient believers who seek Allah's approval through righteous deeds, and those who rebel against Allah's commands and thereby earn His displeasure, whose ultimate destination is Hell. The rhetorical question (Afaman) serves to highlight the obvious impossibility of these two groups being equal in their outcomes and stations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of faith, obedience, and the consequences of following different paths. It follows verses addressing the People of the Book and those who reject Allah's signs. The broader thematic context concerns the contrast between those who accept guidance and those who reject it, particularly relevant to the Medinan period when the Muslim community faced opposition from both external enemies and hypocrites.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'Whoever shows enmity to a friend (wali) of Mine, I declare war upon him' (Sahih Bukhari 5007), emphasizing Allah's pleasure with the obedient. Also relevant is the hadith: 'The most beloved thing to Allah is following His pleasure' (at-Tirmidhi), supporting the theme of seeking ridwan.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that their choices have eternal consequences—pursuing Allah's pleasure through obedience leads to ultimate success, while defiance and rejection lead to certain punishment. For modern readers, it serves as a powerful motivation to align personal decisions with divine commandments, recognizing that seemingly equal external circumstances yield vastly different spiritual outcomes.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ كِتَـٰبًا مُّؤَجَّلًا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِى ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allāh at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world - We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter - We will give him thereof. And We will reward the grateful.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ
Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَهِدَ إِلَيْنَآ أَلَّا نُؤْمِنَ لِرَسُولٍ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَنَا بِقُرْبَانٍ تَأْكُلُهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۗ قُلْ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِى بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَبِٱلَّذِى قُلْتُمْ فَلِمَ قَتَلْتُمُوهُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
[They are] those who said, "Indeed, Allāh has taken our promise not to believe any messenger until he brings us an offering which fire [from heaven] will consume." Say, "There have already come to you messengers before me with clear proofs and [even] that of which you speak. So why did you kill them, if you should be truthful?"
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Who spend [in the cause of Allāh] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allāh loves the doers of good;