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
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.
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], "Did you disbelieve [i.e., reject faith] after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject."
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards, and Allāh does not like the wrongdoers.
مَّا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبِ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْغَيْبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْتَبِى مِن رُّسُلِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
Allāh would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would Allāh reveal to you the unseen. But [instead], Allāh chooses of His messengers whom He wills, so believe in Allāh and His messengers. And if you believe and fear Him, then for you is a great reward.