قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ 69
Translations
Say, "Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allāh will not succeed."
Transliteration
Qul inna alladhina yaftaruna 'ala allahi alkidha la yuflihun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that those who fabricate lies and attribute false statements to Allah will not succeed or prosper in this life or the hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this encompasses false claims about Allah's nature, commands, and revelations, and that such falsehood is among the gravest sins. Al-Tabari notes that 'aflah' (succeed) encompasses both worldly and spiritual failure, as the liar's deeds and intentions are fundamentally corrupted.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah of Yunus, which addresses the polytheists of Mecca who invented false claims about Allah—attributing partners to Him, denying His revelations, and spreading misinformation about the Prophet Muhammad. The broader context of this surah (ayahs 68-70) deals with the refutation of those who make unfounded religious claims and the vindication of the Prophet's truthfulness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever lies about me intentionally, let him take his place in the Fire' (Sahih Bukhari 1291). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, and to lie about Him or about His Messenger' (Musnad Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must guard their tongues from fabricating lies about Islam, Allah's commands, or the Prophet's teachings, understanding that falsehood is spiritually destructive and leads to failure in both worlds; we should seek knowledge from authentic sources and speak with integrity in matters of faith.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّآ أَنجَىٰهُمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُم ۖ مَّتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
But when He saves them, at once they commit injustice upon the earth without right. O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves, [being merely] the enjoyment of worldly life. Then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.
وَلَا تَدْعُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَ ۖ فَإِن فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And do not invoke besides Allāh that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.'"
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ
And they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship and made them successors, and We drowned those who denied Our signs. Then see how was the end of those who were warned.
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةً وَأَمْوَٰلًا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ
And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment."