وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ وَتَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُهُمُ ٱلْكَذِبَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّارَ وَأَنَّهُم مُّفْرَطُونَ 62
Translations
And they attribute to Allāh that which they dislike [i.e., daughters], and their tongues assert the lie that they will have the best [from Him]. Assuredly, they will have the Fire, and they will be [therein] neglected.
Transliteration
Wa yaj'alūna lillāhi mā yakrahūn wa taṣifu alsinātuhumu al-kadhiba anna lahum al-ḥusnā. Lā jarama anna lahum al-nār wa annahum mufrraṭūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the polytheists for attributing to Allah what they themselves despise while falsely claiming through their tongues that they will receive goodness from Him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this refers to their practice of dedicating the worst livestock and produce to idols while reserving the best for themselves, yet claiming Allah will reward them. The ayah concludes with a stern warning that such hypocrisy and transgression will inevitably lead them to the Fire.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl's broader condemnation of idolatry and the illogical practices of the pre-Islamic Arabs. The context addresses their contradictory behavior: while they rejected good things for Allah's sake and offered inferior sacrifices to Him, they simultaneously harbored false hope of His favor. This reflects the general Meccan period's confrontation with pagan Arabian practices.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Surah Al-Hajj 22:29 regarding the condition of sacrificial animals. Additionally, Hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the prohibition of offering defective sacrifices connects to the implicit criticism in this ayah of offering inferior things to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah is not deceived by false claims or outward pretenses—sincere devotion requires consistency between belief and action. Modern readers should examine whether their religious practices reflect genuine conviction or merely serve social convention, as Divine reward depends on authentic intention and behavior.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ نَزَّلَهُۥ رُوحُ ٱلْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."
ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا۟ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission, [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of what you used to do.
بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ ۗ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message [i.e., the Qur’ān] that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And there had certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.