وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ 175
Translations
And recite to them, [O Muḥammad], the news of him to whom We gave [knowledge of] Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan pursued him, and he became of the deviators.
Transliteration
Wa-atlu alayhim naba al-ladhi ataynahu ayatina fa-ansalakha minha fa-attaba'ahu ash-shaytanu fa-kana mina al-ghawwin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a person of great knowledge who received clear divine signs (ayat) but deliberately cast them off and abandoned the truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi identify this individual as Bal'am ibn Ba'ura (Balaam), a learned man who possessed knowledge of the Greatest Name of Allah (Ism al-A'zam) but chose worldly gain over obedience to Allah. Once he rejected the signs, Satan seized the opportunity to lead him astray completely, making him one of those who are profoundly misguided (al-ghawwin).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Meccan surah emphasizing the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. It appears in a section illustrating various examples of those who possessed knowledge and opportunity but chose misguidance, serving as a warning to those in Mecca who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message despite its clarity.
Related Hadiths
The story is referenced in various tafsir compilations. Related thematically: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2907), highlighting the responsibility that comes with knowledge and how knowledge without implementation leads to ruin.
Themes
Key Lesson
Possessing knowledge of truth is not sufficient without sincere adherence and practice; the greatest danger lies in knowingly abandoning divine guidance for worldly desires, as this creates vulnerability to Satan's influence. Modern readers should reflect on how easily knowledge can become a burden rather than a blessing when it is not coupled with sincere obedience and humble submission to Allah.