۞ قَالَ قَرِينُهُۥ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطْغَيْتُهُۥ وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 27
Translations
His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."
Transliteration
Qala qarînuhû rabbana mâ atghaytuhu wa lâkin kâna fî dhalâlin ba'îd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the scene on the Day of Judgment where the devil (Satan/Iblis), who was the companion of a disbeliever, disavows responsibility for leading him astray. The devil claims that he merely whispered and suggested, but the human possessed free will and chose the path of misguidance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates that while Satan tempts and encourages evil, he does not compel anyone to sin—ultimate responsibility rests with the individual for their choices and actions. The phrase 'dhalâlin ba'îd' (far astray) emphasizes the disbeliever's deep and deliberate departure from the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Qaf's vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment and the accountability of souls. It appears within a broader passage (50:20-29) describing how each soul will be confronted with its deeds and how excuses will be made and rejected before Allah. The context illustrates the themes of divine justice and human responsibility that permeate this Meccan surah.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Everyone is facilitated toward that for which he was created,' emphasizing personal agency in choosing between good and evil. Additionally, Surah Ibrahim 14:22 contains a similar statement from Satan on the Day of Judgment, reinforcing this Quranic theme of Satan disclaiming compulsion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while we face temptations and influences from our own desires and external whispers, we remain fully responsible for our choices and cannot blame Satan or others for our moral failings on the Day of Judgment. It calls believers to take ownership of their actions and recognize that true guidance comes from sincere seeking of truth and conscious resistance to evil.