An-Nisa · Ayah 55

فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن صَدَّ عَنْهُ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا 55

Translations

And some among them believed in it, and some among them were averse to it. And sufficient is Hell as a blaze.

Transliteration

Faminhumm man āmana bihī wa minhumm man sadda 'anhu wa kafā bi jahannam sa'īrā

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah refers to the Children of Israel's response to Prophet Musa (Moses) and the clear signs he brought them. Some believed in him while others turned away from his message, and Allah warns that Hellfire is sufficient punishment for those who reject the truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this reflects the divided response of the Israelites to divine guidance, emphasizing that clear evidence does not compel belief when hearts reject it.

Revelation Context

This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of the Children of Israel, their covenant with Allah, and their varying responses to prophetic messages. It comes after verses discussing Musa and the Torah, illustrating the historical pattern of some accepting and others rejecting divine guidance—a lesson applicable to the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) own time.

Related Hadiths

The concept relates to Sahih Bukhari's hadith where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which is fertile soil that absorbs water and brings forth vegetation and grass in abundance, and some of which is hard ground that holds the water and Allah benefits the people with it, and they drink from it and make their animals drink from it and irrigate their crops with it.' This illustrates how the same truth affects people differently.

Themes

Free will and human choice in accepting or rejecting divine guidanceThe divided response of previous communities to prophets and revelationDivine justice and accountability for turning away from truthThe inevitability of punishment for those who persistently deny

Key Lesson

This ayah reminds us that receiving clear guidance is not enough—true faith requires a willing heart that actively chooses to accept and follow the message. For believers, it emphasizes the importance of gratitude for being guided, while cautioning against complacency, and for all humanity, it underscores that rejecting divine truth carries serious spiritual consequences.

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Related Ayahs

4:23An-Nisa

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمْ وَعَمَّـٰتُكُمْ وَخَـٰلَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأُخْتِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُم مِّنَ ٱلرَّضَـٰعَةِ وَأُمَّهَـٰتُ نِسَآئِكُمْ وَرَبَـٰٓئِبُكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى فِى حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّـٰتِى دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلَـٰٓئِلُ أَبْنَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلَـٰبِكُمْ وَأَن تَجْمَعُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلْأُخْتَيْنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your [milk] mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing, your wives' mothers, and your step-daughters under your guardianship [born] of your wives unto whom you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you. And [also prohibited are] the wives of your sons who are from your [own] loins, and that you take [in marriage] two sisters simultaneously, except for what has already occurred. Indeed, Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.

4:120An-Nisa

يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا

He [i.e., Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.

4:169An-Nisa

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.

4:47An-Nisa

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا

O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down [to Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the matter [i.e., decree] of Allāh accomplished.