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
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُ ٱللَّهُ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَعِظْهُمْ وَقُل لَّهُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَوْلًۢا بَلِيغًا
Those are the ones of whom Allāh knows what is in their hearts, so turn away from them but admonish them and speak to them a far-reaching [i.e., effective] word.
وَٱلَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَـٰنِهَا مِنكُمْ فَـَٔاذُوهُمَا ۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And the two who commit it [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] among you - punish [i.e., dishonor] them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allāh is ever Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allāh. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muḥammad], and asked forgiveness of Allāh and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allāh Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],