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
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And to Allāh will [all] matters be returned.
وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥٓ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَرَىٰكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And Allāh had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them [i.e., the enemy] by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet (ﷺ)] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the believers.
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers.
رَبَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise."