وَجَحَدُوا۟ بِهَا وَٱسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا ۚ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ 14
Translations
And they rejected them, while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof, out of injustice and haughtiness. So see how was the end of the corrupters.
Transliteration
Wa jahadu biha wastaiqanat ha anfusuhum zulman wa 'uluwwan, fanzur kayfa kana 'aqibatu al-mufsideen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Pharaoh and his people who rejected the clear signs (ayaat) brought by Prophet Musa despite their hearts knowing the truth with certainty. Ibn Kathir explains that they denied out of wrongdoing and arrogance, choosing disbelief despite inner conviction. The ayah concludes by drawing attention to the destructive end that befell these corruptors, serving as a warning that denial rooted in pride and oppression inevitably leads to ruin.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Naml within the narrative of Musa and Pharaoh (27:7-14). It directly addresses Pharaoh's rejection of Musa's miracles despite witnessing them firsthand. The context is thematic rather than tied to a specific revelation event, serving to remind the Meccan polytheists of the consequences faced by ancient deniers.
Related Hadiths
The theme of hearts knowing truth while rejecting it is referenced in Surah Al-Ankabut (29:49) and related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ stated: 'Every newborn is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah), but his parents make him Jewish, Christian, or Magian.' This reflects how denial contradicts inner knowing.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that denial of truth often stems not from ignorance but from pride and stubbornness, and that such arrogance inevitably leads to destruction. This serves as a reminder to examine our own hearts for hidden resistance to divine guidance and to embrace humility in accepting truth.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا وَءَابَآؤُنَآ أَئِنَّا لَمُخْرَجُونَ
And those who disbelieve say, "When we have become dust as well as our forefathers, will we indeed be brought out [of the graves]?
وَأَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِى جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوٓءٍ ۖ فِى تِسْعِ ءَايَـٰتٍ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
And put your hand into the opening of your garment [at the breast]; it will come out white without disease. [These are] among the nine signs [you will take] to Pharaoh and his people. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَقُصُّ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَكْثَرَ ٱلَّذِى هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Indeed, this Qur’ān relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they disagree.
قَالَ ٱلَّذِى عِندَهُۥ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُۥ قَالَ هَـٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّى لِيَبْلُوَنِىٓ ءَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ
Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."