هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا مَقْتًا ۖ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلَّا خَسَارًا 39
Translations
It is He who has made you successors upon the earth. And whoever disbelieves - upon him will be [the consequence of] his disbelief. And the disbelief of the disbelievers does not increase them in the sight of their Lord except in hatred; and the disbelief of the disbelievers does not increase them except in loss.
Transliteration
Huwa alladhee jaʿalakum khalāʾifa fī al-arḍ, famman kafara faʿalayhi kufruh, wa lā yazīdu al-kāfirīn kufruhum ʿinda rabbihim illā maqtan, wa lā yazīdu al-kāfirīn kufruhum illā khusāran.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that Allah has appointed humans as successors/stewards (khalāʾif) on earth, bearing responsibility for their actions. The verse establishes a crucial principle: disbelief harms only the disbeliever themselves—their rejection of faith increases nothing but hatred from their Lord and results in loss in both worlds. As Ibn Kathir explains, the repetition of the statement about disbelief's consequences underscores its severity and certainty.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is Meccan and addresses fundamental theological concepts. This ayah appears in the context of discussions about creation, divine providence, and human accountability. It serves as a warning to those who rejected the message in Mecca, emphasizing that their disbelief neither harms Allah nor diminishes His dominion, but rather seals their own fate.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Each of you is a guardian and each of you is responsible for those under his guardianship' (Sahih Bukhari 893), relating to the concept of khalīfah (stewardship). Also relevant is: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing responsibility as successors.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize their role as stewards on earth with accountability before Allah, while understanding that rejection of faith ultimately harms only the rejecter—this should inspire both humility in our responsibilities and confidence in the truth. The ayah teaches that our choices have consequences we cannot escape, and genuine success lies in faith and obedience rather than in rebellion against divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - already were messengers denied before you. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were greater than them in power. But Allāh is not to be caused failure [i.e., prevented] by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.
وَلَا ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتُ وَلَا ٱلنُّورُ
Nor are the darknesses and the light,