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
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.
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And to Allāh prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they are not arrogant.
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Then We revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allāh.
أَفَأَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَكَرُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then, do those who have planned evil deeds feel secure that Allāh will not cause the earth to swallow them or that the punishment will not come upon them from where they do not perceive?