وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۖ فَمَآ أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ ءَالِهَتُهُمُ ٱلَّتِى يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ لَّمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ 101
Translations
And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. And they were not availed at all by their gods which they invoked other than Allāh when there came the command of your Lord. And they did not increase them in other than ruin.
Transliteration
Wa mā dhalamnāhum wa lākin dhlamū anfusahum, famā aghnaty 'anhum ālihatum allatī yad'ūn min dūnillāh min shay'in lammā jā'a amr rabbik, wa mā zādūhum ghayra tatbīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah did not wrong the disbelieving nations; rather, they wronged themselves through their rebellion and disbelief. When Allah's command of punishment came, their false gods whom they invoked besides Allah could not help them in any way, and these idols only increased them in ruin and destruction. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this demonstrates the impotence of idols and the justice of Allah's punishment, as the disbelievers chose their own path of misguidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the middle section of Surah Hud, which extensively discusses the stories of previous prophets and nations who rejected their messengers. The verse reflects on the fate of those destroyed nations (such as 'Ad, Thamud, and the people of Nuh), providing a thematic conclusion to their narratives and emphasizing divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Everyone will be tested according to their level of faith,' highlighting personal responsibility. Also relevant is the hadith from Tirmidhi: 'Verily, Allah does not wrong anyone, not even by the weight of an atom.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that our misfortunes are ultimately consequences of our own choices and disobedience, not injustice from Allah, and that turning to anything besides Allah for help in times of crisis is futile. It calls believers to reflect on their reliance and to recognize that only Allah possesses true power and the ability to benefit or harm.
Related Ayahs
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرُونَ
Assuredly, it is they in the Hereafter who will be the greatest losers.
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُوا۟ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire.
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."