ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ أَمْثَـٰلَهُمْ 3
Translations
That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allāh present to the people their comparisons.
Transliteration
Dhālika bi-anna alladhīna kafarū ittaba'ū al-bāṭil wa-anna alladhīna āmanū ittaba'ū al-ḥaqq min rabbihim. Kadhālika yaḍribu Allāhu li-l-nāsi amthālahum.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains that the distinction between believers and disbelievers lies in their chosen paths: disbelievers follow falsehood while believers follow truth from their Lord. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah strikes parables for humanity to illustrate the stark contrast between guidance and misguidance, emphasizing that these divergent outcomes are consequences of deliberate choices rather than fate. The ayah underscores that truth (al-ḥaqq) originates from Allah alone, while falsehood (al-bāṭil) is a human invention divorced from divine revelation.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during a period of military conflict between Muslims and Meccan disbelievers. This surah addresses the Battle of Uhud and its lessons, with this particular ayah appearing in a section that contrasts the fates of believers and disbelievers. It serves as a consolation to Muslims facing persecution and a warning to those rejecting Islamic guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth' (Sahih Bukhari 97). Additionally, 'Whoever Allah wishes to guide, He opens their heart to Islam' (Quran 6:125, related hadith in Sahih Muslim 2644 on divine guidance).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that our spiritual destination is determined by the conscious choice to follow truth from our Lord or to pursue falsehood—emphasizing personal accountability and the transformative power of aligning oneself with divine guidance. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that steadfastness on the path of truth, though challenging, leads to ultimate success, while warning against being swayed by popular opinion or societal falsehoods.