قَالَ فَٱلْحَقُّ وَٱلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ 84
Translations
[Allāh] said, "The truth [is My oath], and the truth I say -
Transliteration
Qala fal-haqqu wal-haqqa aqul
Tafsir (Explanation)
Iblis (Satan) swears by Allah's truth, declaring emphatically 'By the truth and by the truth I say,' as he requests respite until the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this ayah demonstrates Iblis's defiant conviction in his position, even invoking Allah's truth while rebelling against Him—a paradoxical statement that underscores his arrogance and certainty in his own misguided course. The repetition of 'al-haqq' (the truth) emphasizes the solemnity and severity of his oath.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Iblis's dialogue with Allah (38:76-85), where Iblis argues for his superiority over humans and requests postponement of his punishment. The surah addresses the nature of rebellion and accountability before Allah, situating this exchange as a timeless discourse on pride and disobedience.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Muslim (2796) contains traditions about Iblis's request for respite and Allah's granting of it until the Day of Judgment, which contextualizes this dialogue. Additionally, hadiths regarding the danger of arrogance and pride (ujub) relate thematically to Iblis's defiant posture.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers that even in moments of conviction or sincerity of speech, one can remain fundamentally astray if driven by arrogance and rejection of divine guidance—a reminder that true adherence to truth requires humble submission to Allah's will, not merely verbal affirmation.
Related Ayahs
لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكَ وَمِمَّن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[That] I will surely fill Hell with you and those of them that follow you all together."
وَإِنَّهُمْ عِندَنَا لَمِنَ ٱلْمُصْطَفَيْنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ
And indeed they are, to Us, among the chosen and outstanding.
إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ خَصْمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعْضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَٱهْدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ
When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.
قُلْ هُوَ نَبَؤٌا۟ عَظِيمٌ
Say, "It is great news