وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِلَّا ظَنًّا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ 36
Translations
And most of them follow not except assumption. Indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of what they do.
Transliteration
Wa mā yattabi'u akthāruhum illā zannā. Inna az-zanna lā yughni mina al-haqqi shay'ā. Inna Allāha 'alīmun bimā yaf'alūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah criticizes those who follow mere conjecture and speculation (zann) instead of certain knowledge and divine guidance. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that zann refers to baseless assumptions and unfounded opinions, particularly regarding matters of faith and the Divine. The ayah establishes that conjecture provides no protection or benefit against the truth, and Allah remains fully aware of all human actions—an implicit warning that reliance on falsehood will not escape Divine knowledge or accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Yunus (a Meccan surah revealed during the early persecution of Muslims), addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected the Qur'an and clung to the practices and beliefs of their ancestors based on mere custom and assumption rather than evidence. The surah repeatedly contrasts the certainty of Allah's message with the uncertainty of human conjecture.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Beware of suspicion (zann), for suspicion is the falsest of speech' (Sahih Bukhari 5143). Additionally, the Qur'an states in 49:12: 'O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.'
Themes
Key Lesson
In matters of faith and truth, we must distinguish between certain knowledge (based on revelation and evidence) and mere conjecture or personal preference. Relying on baseless assumptions in religious matters leaves us spiritually vulnerable, while trusting in Allah's wisdom and guidance provides genuine protection and rectitude.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ ٱلنَّاسَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Indeed, Allāh does not wrong the people at all, but it is the people who are wronging themselves.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يُؤْمِنُ بِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And of them are those who believe in it, and of them are those who do not believe in it. And your Lord is most knowing of the corrupters.
۞ وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ ٱلشَّرَّ ٱسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِٱلْخَيْرِ لَقُضِىَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَنَذَرُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And if Allāh was to hasten for the people the evil [they invoke] as He hastens for them the good, their term would have been ended for them. But We leave the ones who do not expect the meeting with Us, in their transgression, wandering blindly.
وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ فَمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And We had certainly settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable settlement and provided them with good things. And they did not differ until [after] knowledge had come to them. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.