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
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ وَنُوحًا وَءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَءَالَ عِمْرَٰنَ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Indeed, Allāh chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ʿImrān over the worlds -
وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُۥنَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allāh," but it is not from Allāh. And they speak untruth about Allāh while they know.
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And hold firmly to the rope of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allāh is over all things competent.