وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَهُمْ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ 24
Translations
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allāh, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
Transliteration
Wa jaddattuha wa qawmaha yasjuduna lil-shamsi min duni Allah wa zayyyana lahumu ash-shaytanu a'malahum fa-saddahum 'anil-sabil fa-hum la yahtadun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Sulayman reports finding the Queen of Sheba and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, with Satan having beautified their deeds in their eyes, causing them to be diverted from the path of guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah demonstrates how polytheism and idol worship stem from Satanic deception that makes forbidden acts appear attractive to disbelievers, while their hearts remain sealed from recognizing the truth of monotheism.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah An-Naml (The Ant), which recounts Prophet Sulayman's journey and his encounter with the Queen of Sheba. The context shows how sun worship was prevalent among the people of Sheba in ancient Arabia, illustrating the spiritual condition of pre-Islamic societies and the role of Satanic whispers in perpetuating shirk (polytheism).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah' (Sahih Bukhari). Also relevant is the hadith from Sahih Muslim about how Satan beautifies sins to humans: 'Satan makes sin seem fair to the son of Adam.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that following false deities or ideologies often results from Satan making evil appear attractive and righteous, emphasizing the importance of seeking knowledge, consulting the Quran and Sunnah, and guarding our hearts against Satanic whispers that justify deviation from Allah's path.
Related Ayahs
فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَـٰهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all.
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْغَيْبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allāh, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."
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."
وَأَنجَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allāh.