مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ 23
Translations
Other than Allāh, and guide them to the path of Hellfire
Transliteration
Min dooni Allahi fa-ahdoohum ila sirat al-jaheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Allah's command on the Day of Judgment, where He instructs the angels to lead the idolaters and polytheists toward the path of Hell. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this represents the ultimate consequence of rejecting Allah's tawhid (monotheism) and associating partners with Him. The phrase emphasizes that those who worshipped false deities instead of Allah will be guided toward their deserved punishment without any intercession or escape.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Saffat is a Meccan chapter that extensively describes scenes from the Day of Judgment and refutes polytheism. This ayah appears in the context of Allah's address to the angels regarding the fate of idolaters, reinforcing the Quranic theme that polytheism has inevitable divine consequences. It serves as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers about the certainty of accountability.
Related Hadiths
The themes of guidance toward Hell based on one's deeds relate to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: 'Each soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back,' emphasizing personal accountability for one's beliefs and actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the gravity of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and the importance of sincere monotheism in avoiding eternal punishment. It encourages modern Muslims to examine their hearts and ensure their worship is directed solely toward Allah, free from hidden polytheism or worldly attachments that could rival devotion to the Divine.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَإِذَا وَقَعَ ٱلْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَآبَّةً مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ
And when the word [i.e., decree] befalls them, We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth speaking to them, [saying] that the people were, of Our verses, not certain [in faith].
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
إِنَّا قَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْنَآ أَنَّ ٱلْعَذَابَ عَلَىٰ مَن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.'"
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۖ فَمَآ أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ ءَالِهَتُهُمُ ٱلَّتِى يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ لَّمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ
And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. And they were not availed at all by their gods which they invoked other than Allāh when there came the command of your Lord. And they did not increase them in other than ruin.