ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 19
Translations
Who averted [people] from the way of Allāh and sought to make it [seem] deviant while they, concerning the Hereafter, were disbelievers.
Transliteration
Alladhina yasuddun 'an sabili-llahi wa yabghunaha 'iwajan wa hum bi-l-akhirati hum kafiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who turn people away from the path of Allah and seek to make it crooked/deviant, while denying the Hereafter. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these are the disbelievers and those who actively obstruct others from faith through deception and distortion of the truth. Their rejection of the Hereafter is the root cause of their deviation, as denial of divine accountability embolds them in their rejection of Allah's straight path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes divine guidance and warning against those who reject it. It follows the discussion of previous nations and their rejection of prophets, establishing a pattern of how people actively work against God's path rather than merely being negligent. The context illustrates the obstinacy of the Meccan disbelievers who not only rejected the message themselves but actively campaigned against its acceptance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward similar to that of its doer' (Sahih Muslim 1893). Conversely, the concept of leading others astray and turning them from the path is condemned in numerous hadiths, including references to those who distort religion for worldly gain (See Jami' at-Tirmidhi on those who misguide others).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against both personal deviation from Allah's path and the greater sin of actively misleading others away from faith. For believers, it underscores the importance of remaining steadfast on the straight path and protecting others from those who seek to corrupt religion, while recognizing that ultimate guidance comes from Allah alone.