وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لِّأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُوٓا۟ إِثْمًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ 178
Translations
And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time [of enjoyment] it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.
Transliteration
Wa lā yaḥsabanna alladhīna kafarū anna numlī lahum khayrun li-anfusihim. Innamā numlī lahum li-yazdādū ithmān wa-lahum ʿadhābun muhīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns disbelievers not to interpret Allah's respite and provision as a sign of His approval or benefit for them. Rather, Allah's delay in punishment is actually a means by which they accumulate more sins and transgressions, leading ultimately to a humiliating punishment. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this divine forbearance (imla') is a test and a rope by which they bind themselves deeper into sin, not a sign of forgiveness or favor.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3), a Medinan surah revealed after the Battle of Uhud. The broader context addresses the consequences of disbelief and the trials faced by believers. While no specific asbab al-nuzul is documented for this particular verse, it fits within the surah's themes of divine wisdom in testing communities and the ultimate accountability of those who reject faith.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of divine respite: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'When Allah intends good for His servant, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He intends evil for His servant, He withholds his sins until He brings him to account on the Day of Judgment' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:183 conveys the same theme of respite leading to increased sin.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not mistake Allah's patience and provision in this world as approval of sinful deeds, nor should they assume that material comfort indicates divine favor—true favor lies in guidance and righteousness. This ayah serves as a humbling reminder that worldly success without faith is ultimately a means of one's own spiritual destruction.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا۟ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ ٱلْبَغْضَآءُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِى صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves [i.e., believers], for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.
وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ أَرْبَابًا ۗ أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
Nor could he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelief after you had been Muslims?
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْكُفْرَ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ لَن يَضُرُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who purchase disbelief [in exchange] for faith - never will they harm Allāh at all, and for them is a painful punishment.
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَـٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allāh has with Him the best return [i.e., Paradise].