وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيرًا ۖ أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْقِلُونَ 62
Translations
And he had already led astray from among you much of creation, so did you not use reason?
Transliteration
Wa-laqad adalla minkum jibillon katheeran, afalam takoonoo ta'qiloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, spoken by Iblis (Satan) on the Day of Judgment, reveals his admission that he has led many people astray from the path of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Iblis's boast highlights human responsibility—the fact that people followed him demonstrates their failure to use reason and intellect to distinguish truth from falsehood. The rhetorical question 'Did you not use reason?' underscores that those led astray bear responsibility for abandoning their rational faculties and moral conscience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the section of Surah Ya-Sin describing the Day of Judgment, where Iblis confesses his plot against humanity. It is thematically part of the broader Quranic warning about Satan's enmity toward mankind and serves as a reminder of the final reckoning when all deceptions will be exposed. The context emphasizes that following Satan is ultimately a choice made by those who neglect their intellect and faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest evil in this life and the next is misguidance,' which relates to the theme of being led astray. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:17-18 contains Iblis's own declaration of his plot to mislead humanity, providing complementary context to this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Satan actively works to mislead people, humans are not passive victims—we possess reason and conscience as divine gifts that protect us if we use them. The ultimate responsibility for being led astray lies with those who neglect their intellect and abandon the guidance of Allah, making mindfulness and rational reflection essential acts of worship and self-preservation.