Tafsir & Commentary
The Ornaments of Gold (الزخرف) · Meccan
وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُۥ شَيْطَـٰنًا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٌ36
43:36
Translation — Sahih International
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.
Transliteration
Wa man ya'sh 'an dhikri ar-Rahmani nuqayyid lahu shaytan fa-huwa lahu qarin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that whoever turns away from the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah, the Most Merciful, We will assign to him a devil as a companion. Ibn Kathir explains that this assignment is a consequence and punishment for abandoning dhikr—the devil becomes a constant companion leading the person astray. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this reflects a divine principle: those who distance themselves from Allah's guidance are left to follow their base desires and the whispers of Satan, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of spiritual negligence.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zukhruf, a Meccan chapter that addresses the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad. The surah contextually warns against those who turn away from divine guidance and become preoccupied with worldly ornaments. This particular ayah serves as a warning about the spiritual consequences of abandoning remembrance of Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the living and the dead' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever is heedless of my remembrance, indeed his life will be narrow, and We will raise him on the Day of Judgment blind' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lessons
Consistent remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is a spiritual shield against satanic influence and spiritual misguidance; conversely, neglecting Allah's remembrance leaves one vulnerable to being led astray by the devil. This ayah underscores that our spiritual state is largely determined by our conscious choices to engage with or distance ourselves from divine guidance.