وَٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ 25
Translations
But those who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and spread corruption on earth - for them is the curse, and they will have the worst home.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhīna yanqudūna 'ahda Allāhi min ba'di mīthāqih wa-yaqta'ūna mā amara Allāhu bihī an yūsala wa-yufsidūna fī al-ardi ūlā'ika lahumu al-la'natu wa-lahum sū'u al-dāri
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who break Allah's covenant and contract after establishing it, sever ties that Allah commanded to be joined (such as kinship and social bonds), and spread corruption on earth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these actions—breaking oaths, severing family ties, and general corruption—incur Allah's curse and result in severe punishment in the Hereafter. The ayah emphasizes the gravity of covenant-breaking as a fundamental sin that combines disobedience to Allah with harm to society.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Ra'd (Medinan), which addresses various categories of believers and disbelievers. The broader context discusses the consequences of deeds and moral responsibility. While no specific asbab al-nuzul is recorded for this exact ayah, it reflects the Medinan period's focus on social order, fulfilling obligations, and the prohibition of severing family ties—issues particularly relevant to the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 5984). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who have the best character and those who are best to their families' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), which relates to maintaining the bonds Allah commanded.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must honor their commitments to Allah and maintain the bonds of kinship and community that Allah has enjoined, recognizing that breach of these obligations brings divine displeasure and worldly consequences. This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that personal integrity and social responsibility are intertwined aspects of faithful obedience.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ
And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allāh and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return."
وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
And already were [other] messengers ridiculed before you, and I extended the time of those who disbelieved; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allāh. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allāh hearts are assured."
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ
Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],