إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 55
Translations
Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allāh are those who have disbelieved, and they will not [ever] believe-
Transliteration
Inna sharra al-dawabb inda Allah alladhina kafaru fahum la yu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the disbelievers as the worst of creatures (al-dawabb) in Allah's sight because they possess the capacity for reason and understanding yet persistently reject faith. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that 'al-dawabb' (creatures/animals) is used metaphorically here to emphasize that disbelievers, despite their intellectual faculties, behave worse than animals by refusing guidance. The phrase 'they will not believe' indicates their obstinate rejection is self-imposed, not due to inability.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Anfal is primarily Medinan and addresses the early Muslim community regarding the Battle of Badr and the ethics of warfare. This particular ayah occurs in a passage discussing the characteristics of disbelievers and their fundamental nature, emphasizing why they oppose the believers and divine truth. It provides theological context for understanding the spiritual state of those fighting against Allah's message.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding those who reject guidance: 'The worst of creatures are those who disbelieve.' This reinforces that kufr (disbelief) represents a spiritual degradation lower than animal nature despite human intellectual capacity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejecting divine guidance after understanding it is a grave spiritual condition that separates humans from their elevated status as rational creatures. Modern readers should reflect on how responsibility increases with knowledge—ignorance of truth differs fundamentally from conscious rejection of it.
Related Ayahs
لَّوْلَا كِتَـٰبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
If not for a decree from Allāh that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allāh. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.
وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَآءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
And their prayer at the House [i.e., the Kaʿbah] was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved [i.e., practiced of deviations].
ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend.