تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ 222
Translations
They descend upon every sinful liar.
Transliteration
Tanazzalu 'ala kulli affakin atheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how evil spirits (shayatin) descend upon every great liar and sinner, whispering false ideas and corrupt suggestions to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse emphasizes that those who persistently lie and commit sin become receptive vessels for Satanic influence, which reinforces their deviation from truth. The word 'affak' (great liar) and 'athim' (sinner) denotes someone habituated to grave transgressions, making them susceptible to demonic whispers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which addresses the Meccan polytheists' accusations that the Qur'an was fabricated poetry or that the Prophet Muhammad was a poet possessed by jinn. This verse refutes such claims by explaining that the Qur'an comes from divine revelation, not from shayatin, and that false speech actually attracts satanic influence rather than divine inspiration.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Indeed, the worst of people are the liars' (Sahih Bukhari 3591). Also, 'The closest person to the Dajjal (Antichrist) is the one who tells the greatest lies' (Musnad Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that habitual lying and sin create spiritual vulnerability, opening one's heart to evil suggestions and moral degradation. Conversely, truthfulness and righteousness provide protection from such influences, emphasizing that our character and choices directly determine our spiritual receptivity.
Related Ayahs
هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ
Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ
And indeed, they [i.e., the devils] avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided
وَلِتَصْغَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَفْـِٔدَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَلِيَرْضَوْهُ وَلِيَقْتَرِفُوا۟ مَا هُم مُّقْتَرِفُونَ
And [it is] so the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will incline toward it [i.e., deceptive speech] and that they will be satisfied with it and that they will commit that which they are committing.
إِنَّمَا يَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلسُّوٓءِ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allāh what you do not know.