لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 188
Translations
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Lā tahsabanna alladhīna yafrahūna bimā ataw wa-yuhihhūna an yuhmadū bimā lam yaf'alū falā tahsabannnahum bimafāzatin min al-'adhāb wa-lahum 'adhābun alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who rejoice in their deeds and love to be praised for actions they did not perform, warning them not to think they will escape punishment. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this refers to those who boast about their wealth, knowledge, or charity while simultaneously accepting false praise or misrepresenting their accomplishments. The ayah emphasizes that such arrogance and deception are grave spiritual diseases that will result in painful punishment in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran's broader discussion of character and spiritual attributes revealed in Medina. The context relates to warnings against hypocrisy (nifāq) and vanity among the Muslim community, addressing those who perform good deeds for show and worldly recognition rather than sincere devotion to Allah. It connects to the surah's broader theme of distinguishing between sincere believers and those with deficient faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever does a deed seeking show and reputation, Allah will expose him on the Day of Judgment' (Sahih Bukhari 6494). Additionally, the Prophet warned: 'The most feared thing I fear for you is minor shirk (hidden polytheism)—showing off' (Sunan Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
True righteousness is judged by sincere intention and honest conduct, not by outward appearance, boasting, or the validation others give us. Believers must examine their hearts to ensure they perform good deeds solely for Allah's pleasure, not for worldly praise or self-aggrandizement.
Related Ayahs
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا۟ لِمَآ أَصَابَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا۟ وَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And how many a prophet [fought in battle and] with him fought many religious scholars. But they never lost assurance due to what afflicted them in the cause of Allāh, nor did they weaken or submit. And Allāh loves the steadfast.
فَمَنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And whoever invents about Allāh untruth after that - then those are [truly] the wrongdoers.
وَإِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰكِ وَطَهَّرَكِ وَٱصْطَفَىٰكِ عَلَىٰ نِسَآءِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allāh has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining.