فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ 98
Translations
So when you recite the Qur’ān, [first] seek refuge in Allāh from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].
Transliteration
Fa-itha qarata al-Qur'ana fa-sta'idh billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to seek refuge in Allah from Satan when reciting the Qur'an, as the Qur'an is the word of Allah and Satan seeks to distract or prevent understanding of it. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this protection (istia'adhah) is a spiritual shield against Satan's whispers and distractions during recitation, while Al-Qurtubi notes that this command reflects the importance of the Qur'an and the active enmity Satan holds toward it and those who study it.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter that addresses fundamental Islamic concepts including God's signs in creation and guidance. The placement of this instruction emphasizes the Qur'an's status as divine guidance and the believer's need for spiritual protection when engaging with sacred text, serving as a practical guideline for all who approach the Qur'an.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When you intend to recite the Qur'an, seek refuge with Allah from Satan the outcast' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet taught seeking refuge (ta'awwudh) as a preparatory practice before Qur'anic recitation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that engaging with Allah's word is a sacred act requiring spiritual preparation and mindfulness of Satan's attempts to distract or corrupt understanding. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of intentionality, purification of heart, and conscious reliance on Allah when studying Islamic texts and seeking divine guidance.
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.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ نَّحْنُ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ فَهَلْ عَلَى ٱلرُّسُلِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And those who associate others with Allāh say, "If Allāh had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything through other than Him." Thus did those do before them. So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification?
مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَـٰنِهِۦٓ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُۥ مُطْمَئِنٌّۢ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Whoever disbelieves in [i.e., denies] Allāh after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allāh, and for them is a great punishment;
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?