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
وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And if Allāh had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.
وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَـٰرًا وَسُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided,
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allāh, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allāh.
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.