إِنَّمَا ٱلسَّبِيلُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 42
Translations
The cause is only against the ones who wrong the people and tyrannize upon the earth without right. Those will have a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Innama as-sabilu ala alladhina yazlimuna an-nasa wa yabghuna fi al-ardi bighayri al-haqq. Ula'ika lahum adhabun alim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the path of accountability and punishment is against those who oppress people and commit injustice in the earth without right. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse clarifies that Allah's retribution specifically targets tyrants and wrongdoers, emphasizing that oppression and transgression against creation incur divine punishment. Al-Qurtubi notes that this encompasses both individual acts of injustice and systemic corruption spreading throughout society.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan chapter dealing with divine guidance, consultation (shura), and the consequences of rejecting truth. The broader context addresses the rejection of messengers by disbelievers and the inevitable punishment awaiting those who persist in wrongdoing and oppression against others.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah' (Sahih Bukhari 2448). Additionally, 'Whoever wrongs a person in his rights, oppresses him, or takes something from him unlawfully, then on the Day of Resurrection he will be made to carry it' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that oppression of others—whether through exploitation, abuse of power, or spreading corruption—is not hidden from Allah and will result in severe punishment. For modern believers, it reinforces the moral imperative to stand against injustice, protect the vulnerable, and conduct oneself with integrity in all dealings with others.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَـٰجَوْنَ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ ۚ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Have you not considered those who were forbidden from private conversation [i.e., ridicule and conspiracy] and then return to that which they were forbidden and converse among themselves about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger? And when they come to you, they greet you with that [word] by which Allāh does not greet you and say among themselves, "Why does Allāh not punish us for what we say?" Sufficient for them is Hell, which they will [enter to] burn, and wretched is the destination.
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنًا وَٱرْزُقْ أَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُۥ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allāh and the Last Day." [Allāh] said, "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
And you laugh and do not weep
وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا
And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.