إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا هُمْ فِيهِ وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 139
Translations
Indeed, those [worshippers] - destroyed is that in which they are [engaged], and worthless is whatever they were doing."
Transliteration
Inna haʾulaʾi mutabbaru maa hum fīhi wa-bāṭilu maa kānū yaʿmalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, spoken by Prophet Musa (Moses) to the Israelites regarding their worship of the golden calf, declares that whatever the calf-worshippers possess of wealth and status is destined for destruction, and all their deeds of idolatry are false and void. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this demonstrates the inevitable ruin of those who abandon Allah's guidance for false objects of worship, regardless of their material attachments or efforts in pursuit of falsehood.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Surah Al-A'raf describing the incident of the golden calf, which occurred when Prophet Musa left the Israelites for forty days to receive the Torah. During his absence, they were led astray by Samiri into crafting and worshipping a golden calf. The ayah reflects the divine verdict upon this grievous act of shirk (polytheism) and serves as a timeless warning against abandoning monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best speech is the Book of Allah (Quran)' (Sahih Muslim 1338). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant thinks of Me' relates to the consequence of false beliefs and actions deviating from Allah's path.
Themes
Key Lesson
No matter how much effort, wealth, or worldly investment is devoted to falsehood and disobedience, it is ultimately doomed to destruction and bears no spiritual fruit. Believers should ensure their actions align with tawhid (monotheism) and divine guidance, as only deeds rooted in sincere faith in Allah possess lasting value.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ
But those who hold fast to the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُۥ وَلَهُۥ يَسْجُدُونَ ۩
Indeed, those who are near your Lord [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, and they exalt Him, and to Him they prostrate.
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوٓا۟ أَن تِلْكُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allāh had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do."
قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[Allāh] said, "Depart from it [i.e., Paradise], reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."