إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ ءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ ٱزْدَادُوا۟ كُفْرًا لَّمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ سَبِيلًۢا 137
Translations
Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way.
Transliteration
Inna alladhīna āmanū thumma kafarū thumma āmanū thumma kafarū thumma izdādū kufran lam yakun Allāhu liyaghfira lahum wa lā liyahdiyahum sabīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who repeatedly cycle between belief and disbelief, ultimately increasing in their rejection of faith—for such people, Allah's forgiveness and guidance are withheld. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to those who persistently reject truth despite witnessing it, demonstrating hardened hearts that have become sealed against guidance. The repetition emphasizes the habitual nature of their apostasy and their deliberate rejection of Allah's signs, making them unworthy of divine mercy.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period when the Muslim community faced challenges from hypocrites and those who wavered in faith. This ayah addresses the spiritual reality of people like certain Jewish tribes and hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Medina who witnessed the truth of Islam yet continued to reject it out of stubbornness and worldly interests. It serves as a warning about the consequences of persistent disbelief after clear knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him' (Sahih Bukhari 6922), which demonstrates the serious nature of apostasy. Additionally, in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:217, the Quran emphasizes that returning to disbelief after faith is considered among the gravest sins.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere repentance must come quickly, as persistent wavering and deliberate rejection of truth can lead to a sealed heart beyond redemption. For believers, it serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in faith and to return to Allah immediately upon any lapse, rather than falling into cycles of sin and repentance that harden the heart.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا
Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allāh entirely.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
O you who have believed, believe in Allāh and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allāh, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَـٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًٔا مَّرِيٓـًٔا
And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.
إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.