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
وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَهُمْ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُرَكَآؤُنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كُنَّا نَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِكَ ۖ فَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ إِنَّكُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
And when those who associated others with Allāh see their "partners," they will say, "Our Lord, these are our partners [to You] whom we used to invoke [in worship] besides You." But they will throw at them the statement, "Indeed, you are liars."
وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَآ ءَايَةً مَّكَانَ ءَايَةٍ ۙ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍۭ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse - and Allāh is most knowing of what He sends down - they say, "You, [O Muḥammad], are but an inventor [of lies]." But most of them do not know.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who do not believe in the verses of Allāh - Allāh will not guide them, and for them is a painful punishment.