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
إِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ غَرَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ دِينُهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
[Remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was disease [i.e., arrogance and disbelief] said, "Their religion has deluded those [Muslims]." But whoever relies upon Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
And do not be like those who came forth from their homes insolently and to be seen by people and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And Allāh is encompassing of what they do.
وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
But Allāh would not punish them while you, [O Muḥammad], are among them, and Allāh would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.
إِذْ أَنتُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُم بِٱلْعُدْوَةِ ٱلْقُصْوَىٰ وَٱلرَّكْبُ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتُّمْ لَٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِى ٱلْمِيعَـٰدِ ۙ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَقْضِىَ ٱللَّهُ أَمْرًا كَانَ مَفْعُولًا لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَىٰ مَنْ حَىَّ عَنۢ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
[Remember] when you were on the near side of the valley, and they were on the farther side, and the caravan was lower [in position] than you. If you had made an appointment [to meet], you would have missed the appointment. But [it was] so that Allāh might accomplish a matter already destined - that those who perished [through disbelief] would perish upon evidence and those who lived [in faith] would live upon evidence; and indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.