لِيَحْمِلُوٓا۟ أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ 25
Translations
That they may bear their own burdens [i.e., sins] in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without [i.e., by lack of] knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.
Transliteration
Liyahmilū awzārahum kāmilatan yawma al-qiyāmah, wa min awzāri alladhīna yudillūnahum bighayri 'ilm, alā sā'a mā yazirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the burden that those who deliberately lead others astray will bear on the Day of Judgment. They will carry their own sins in full, plus a portion of the sins of those they misled—a severe punishment for spreading misguidance without knowledge. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this applies particularly to those who lead others away from the truth through falsehood and false teaching, amplifying the gravity of such actions in the sight of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nahl's discussion of divine guidance and misguidance. The surah addresses the Meccan disbelievers and those who rejected the message despite clear signs. This verse specifically warns against those who propagate falsehood and mislead others intentionally or through ignorance, reinforcing the surah's theme that accountability for misguidance is compounded.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever invents a bad practice in Islam will bear its sin and the sins of all who act upon it after him, without any reduction in their burden' (Sahih Muslim). This hadith directly relates to the principle of shared burden for those who lead others astray.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that our responsibility extends beyond ourselves—the words we speak, the examples we set, and the teachings we spread carry weight not only in our own judgment but in the judgment of those we influence. We must be deeply conscious of what we teach and promote, ensuring it is grounded in true knowledge ('ilm) rather than conjecture or falsehood, as the consequences transcend this life.