إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْكُفْرَ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ لَن يَضُرُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 177
Translations
Indeed, those who purchase disbelief [in exchange] for faith - never will they harm Allāh at all, and for them is a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Inna alladhīna ishtaraw al-kufra bi-al-īmān lan yaḍurrū Allāha shay'an wa-lahum 'adhābun alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who exchange faith (īmān) for disbelief (kufr), emphasizing that such an action cannot harm Allah in any way, as He is beyond harm, but rather it brings severe punishment upon the perpetrators themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to those who knowingly and deliberately reject the truth after having understood it, or those Muslims who apostasized and returned to disbelief. The phrase 'will not harm Allah at all' underscores Allah's absolute perfection and self-sufficiency, while the promise of 'painful punishment' serves as a stern warning of the grave consequences of such a choice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of faith, disbelief, and the consequences of one's choices. It is believed to relate broadly to those who rejected or turned away from Islam during the Medinan period, whether they were hypocrites (munāfiqūn) or those who had previously believed but apostasized. The surah emphasizes the importance of steadfastness in faith amid trials.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him' (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Apostasy). Additionally, Surah 2:217 warns against apostasy with similar severity: 'Whoever rejects faith after accepting it...their deeds will bear no fruit.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that abandoning faith for disbelief is among the gravest sins, bringing severe divine punishment, and serves as a reminder that our choices have real spiritual consequences regardless of whether we think we can 'escape' or hide from Allah. It encourages believers to guard their faith carefully and seek refuge in Allah from wavering in belief.
Related Ayahs
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh provides for whom He wills without account."
وَلِيُمَحِّصَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَمْحَقَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And that Allāh may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers.
قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] - one fighting in the cause of Allāh and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allāh supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allāh has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allāh, of what you do, is [fully] Aware.