وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ ٱلْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ 112
Translations
And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy - devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent.
Transliteration
Wa kadhalika ja'alna li kulli nabiyyin 'aduwwan shayatini al-insi wa al-jinni yuwhi ba'duhum ila ba'din zukhruf al-qawli ghurura. Wa law sha'a rabbuka ma fa'aluh. Fadharhum wa ma yaftaroon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that Allah has appointed for every prophet enemies from among the devils of both mankind and jinn, who whisper to one another with ornate, deceptive speech to lead people astray. Ibn Kathir explains that these satanic forces work in coordination across human and jinn realms to beautify falsehood and make it appealing. The ayah concludes by affirming Allah's absolute will and command—if He willed it, He could have prevented their deception—while instructing the Prophet to disregard them and their fabrications.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-An'am and is situated within a broader context addressing the opposition the Prophet Muhammad faced from Meccan polytheists and their attempts to distract believers through seductive arguments and false claims. It reassures the Prophet that this opposition is not unique to him but is a universal trial faced by all messengers, providing him consolation and perspective.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Satan runs through the son of Adam like blood runs through his veins' (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The strongest among you is the one who controls his anger' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi) relates thematically to resisting the whispers and deceptions mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that opposition and seductive falsehoods are inevitable tests, not signs of weakness in their faith, and they must remain steadfast by relying on Allah's guidance rather than being swayed by attractive but deceptive rhetoric. Understanding that evil forces operate systematically should motivate Muslims to seek knowledge, maintain moral vigilance, and trust in Allah's ultimate wisdom and control.
Related Ayahs
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
See how they will lie about themselves. And lost from them will be what they used to invent.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِٱلنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰٓ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein [i.e., by day] that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ۚ فَإِن يَكْفُرْ بِهَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ فَقَدْ وَكَّلْنَا بِهَا قَوْمًا لَّيْسُوا۟ بِهَا بِكَـٰفِرِينَ
Those are the ones to whom We gave the Scripture and authority and prophethood. But if they [i.e., the disbelievers] deny it, then We have entrusted it to a people who are not therein disbelievers.
قُلْ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَامِلٌ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Say, "O my people, work according to your position; [for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed."