ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ 9
Translations
That is because they disliked what Allāh revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds.
Transliteration
Dhālika bi-annahum karihū mā anzala Allāhu fa-ahbaṭa aʿmālahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains that the disbelievers' rejection and hatred of what Allah has revealed results in the nullification of all their deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that rejection of divine revelation, regardless of one's outward good works, renders those actions worthless in the sight of Allah, as the foundation of sincere faith is absent. The verse illustrates a fundamental Islamic principle: that righteous deeds are only accepted when coupled with belief in Allah's message.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad was revealed during the Medinan period and addresses the hypocrites and those who rejected the Prophet's message despite witnessing its truth. This ayah appears within a passage discussing the fate of those who turn away from guidance, specifically relating to the battles and conflicts that arose from their rejection of divine revelation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever performs deeds for other than Allah, Allah will record it as associating partners with Him' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, 'Actions are judged by intentions, and each person shall have what they intended' (Sahih Bukhari), emphasizing that deeds without correct belief and intention are nullified.
Themes
Key Lesson
No matter how outwardly good our actions may appear, they are meaningless without sincere belief in Allah's guidance and submission to His revelation. This ayah serves as a reminder that true success comes from aligning our hearts with divine truth, not merely performing external rituals or good deeds.