فَٱعْبُدُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 15
Translations
So worship what you will besides Him." Say, "Indeed, the losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, that is the manifest loss."
Transliteration
Fa'budoo maa shi'tum min doonihi. Qul inna al-khasereen alladheen khasaroo anfusahum wa-ahleehim yawm al-qiyamah. Alaa dhalika huwa al-khusran al-mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a powerful rhetorical challenge to the polytheists, sarcastically inviting them to worship whatever they wish besides Allah, before delivering the devastating conclusion that the true losers are those who have lost themselves and their families on the Day of Judgment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes the ultimate futility of shirk (polytheism) and worldly attachments, as the only loss that truly matters is losing one's soul and loved ones in the afterlife due to disbelief. Al-Qurtubi notes the profound contrast between temporary worldly choices and eternal spiritual consequence.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. This ayah falls within a section addressing the reality of divine judgment and the consequences of rejecting monotheism, serving as a warning to those who persist in idolatry despite the clear message of Islamic monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), relating to the mention of losing one's family. Also relevant: 'Whoever loses his soul has truly suffered loss' (derived from Surah 39:15 itself, echoing broader hadith themes in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim about the Day of Judgment).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that the pursuit of worldly comfort and false gods leads to the greatest loss—losing oneself and one's loved ones eternally. Believers should prioritize their spiritual state and that of their families above all temporal concerns, recognizing that only deeds and faith matter on the Day of Judgment.