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
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱبْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِى رَحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But as for those whose faces turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allāh. They will abide therein eternally.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.
فَٱنقَلَبُوا۟ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوٓءٌ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
So they returned with favor from Allāh and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allāh, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْقَصَصُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Indeed, this is the true narration. And there is no deity except Allāh. And indeed, Allāh is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.