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
وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ دَارِ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh invites to the Home of Peace [i.e., Paradise] and guides whom He wills to a straight path.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
Those who believed and were fearing Allāh.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَـٰنِهِمْ ۖ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens of Pleasure.
وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ ۖ أَنتُم بَرِيٓـُٔونَ مِمَّآ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], then say, "For me are my deeds, and for you are your deeds. You are disassociated from what I do, and I am disassociated from what you do."