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
وَٱلْبَحْرِ ٱلْمَسْجُورِ
And [by] the sea set on fire,
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
رُّبَمَا يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ مُسْلِمِينَ
Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish that they had been Muslims.
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ
And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allāh wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.