فَأَغْوَيْنَـٰكُمْ إِنَّا كُنَّا غَـٰوِينَ 32
Translations
And we led you to deviation; indeed, we were deviators."
Transliteration
Fa-aghwaynahkum inna kunna ghawyin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents the words of the devils and their allies on the Day of Judgment, confessing that they led humans astray, claiming they themselves were also astray (in disbelief). Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as Satan and his followers admitting their own deviation and false guidance, demonstrating that they have no excuse and will not accept responsibility for humanity's choice to follow them. The verse emphasizes that while they invited to misguidance, those who followed them did so of their own volition.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's description of the Day of Judgment, where various groups will make excuses and accusations. The passage (37:25-32) depicts a dialogue between the arrogant and the humble on that Day, with this ayah being the response of those who led others astray, ultimately admitting their own state of disbelief and misguidance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim 2762 reports that the Prophet ﷺ said on the Day of Judgment, the Jews will say 'We worship Uzayr,' the Christians 'We worship Christ,' but all will face Allah's judgment for their deviation. Surah As-Saffat 37:27 (same passage) relates to mutual recrimination where followers will blame their leaders.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while we may be influenced by others, we retain personal responsibility for our choices and beliefs; no one can claim innocence by blaming their leaders or society, as we will all answer to Allah for our conscious decisions.
Related Ayahs
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُو قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا۟ بِهَا عِلْمًا أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Until, when they arrive [at the place of Judgement], He will say, "Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what [was it that] you were doing?"
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ
To Him [alone] is attributed knowledge of the Hour. And fruits emerge not from their coverings nor does a female conceive or give birth except with His knowledge. And the Day He will call to them, "Where are My 'partners'?" they will say, "We announce to You that there is [no longer] among us any witness [to that]."
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱبْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِى رَحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But as for those whose faces turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allāh. They will abide therein eternally.
أَلَيْسَ ذَٰلِكَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْـِۧىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ
Is not that [Creator] Able to give life to the dead?