ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ ٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 107
Translations
That is because they preferred the worldly life over the Hereafter and that Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
Transliteration
Dhālika bi-annahumu stahabbū al-hayāta ad-dunyā alā al-ākhirah wa-anna Allāha lā yahdī al-qawma al-kāfirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains the reason for the destruction and punishment of those who reject Allah's message: their deliberate choice to prioritize worldly desires and material gains over spiritual truth and the eternal life to come. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this ayah demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship—disbelief stems from loving the dunya (temporal world), which then leads to Allah withdrawing His guidance as a consequence of their choice. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this preference reflects a fundamental misalignment of values that prevents hearts from accepting divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nahl's discussion of those who reject Allah's signs despite clear evidence. The broader passage addresses the stubbornness of disbelievers who witnessed miracles and teachings but chose to deny them. This reflects the Meccan period's constant struggle between the Prophet's message and the pagan Meccans' attachment to their worldly customs and material prosperity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'A man is upon the religion of his friend, so let one of you look to whom he befriends' (Tirmidhi 2378), relating to how environmental and social influences shape one's spiritual priorities. Additionally, the hadith 'The love of the dunya is the root of all evil' (At-Tirmidhi) directly connects worldly attachment to spiritual corruption.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that spiritual success requires consciously choosing eternal values over temporary worldly gains, and that the heart's attachment to material pursuits creates a barrier to receiving divine guidance. Modern readers should reflect on their own priorities and ensure that the pursuit of wealth, status, and comfort does not eclipse their commitment to faith and the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
By Allāh, We did certainly send [messengers] to nations before you, but Satan made their deeds attractive to them. And he is their [i.e., the disbelievers] ally today [as well], and they will have a painful punishment.
مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَـٰنِهِۦٓ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُۥ مُطْمَئِنٌّۢ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Whoever disbelieves in [i.e., denies] Allāh after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allāh, and for them is a great punishment;
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ ۗ تَٱللَّهِ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ
And they assign to what they do not know [i.e., false deities] a portion of that which We have provided them. By Allāh, you will surely be questioned about what you used to invent.
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Do they [i.e., the disbelievers] await except that the angels should come to them or there comes the command of your Lord? Thus did those do before them. And Allāh wronged them not, but they had been wronging themselves.