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
مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ
It is not for a human [prophet] that Allāh should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allāh," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Let not believers take disbelievers as allies [i.e., supporters or protectors] rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing [i.e., no association] with Allāh, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allāh warns you of Himself, and to Allāh is the [final] destination.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ وَقُودُ ٱلنَّارِ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all. And it is they who are fuel for the Fire.
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved,