مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِى ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 178
Translations
Whoever Allāh guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - it is those who are the losers.
Transliteration
Man yahdil-lahu fahuwa al-muhtadi wa man yudlil fa-ulaika hum al-khasiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that true guidance (hidayah) comes exclusively from Allah—whoever Allah guides is truly guided, and whoever He allows to go astray is among the losers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes Allah's ultimate authority over guidance while maintaining human responsibility, as the context of Surah Al-A'raf discusses people who rejected the truth despite clear signs. Al-Tabari notes that being 'muhtadi' (guided) refers to those who submit to Allah's signs and follow His path, while the 'khasiroon' (losers) are those who turn away from guidance despite its clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan context of Surah Al-A'raf, which discusses various nations and their responses to divine guidance throughout history. It comes after verses describing how Allah's signs are clear to those willing to perceive them, serving to remind the Meccans that guidance is a divine gift dependent on sincere seeking and submission to Allah's will.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers of the Most Merciful as one heart. He turns them wherever He wishes.' (Sahih Muslim 2654). Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever Allah wishes to guide, He opens his chest to Islam; and whoever He wishes to leave astray, He makes his chest tight and constricted.' (Sahih Bukhari 3334)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that while guidance is ultimately from Allah, we bear responsibility for seeking it sincerely through reflection on His signs and obedience to His commands. It should inspire humility—recognizing our dependence on Allah's guidance—while motivating us to actively pursue knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah, trusting that sincere effort attracts divine assistance.