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
وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And never be of those who deny the signs of Allāh and [thus] be among the losers.
وَٱتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَٱصْبِرْ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
And follow what is revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and be patient until Allāh will judge. And He is the best of judges.
وَيُحِقُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
And Allāh will establish the truth by His words, even if the criminals dislike it."
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ جَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍۭ بِمِثْلِهَا وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ ۖ كَأَنَّمَآ أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ قِطَعًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But they who have earned [blame for] evil doings - the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They will have from Allāh no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night - so dark [are they]. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.