فَرِيقًا هَدَىٰ وَفَرِيقًا حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۗ إِنَّهُمُ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ 30
Translations
A group [of you] He guided, and a group deserved [to be in] error. Indeed, they [i.e., the latter] had taken the devils as allies instead of Allāh while they thought that they were guided.
Transliteration
Farīqan hadā wa farīqan haqqa ʿalayhimu aḍ-ḍalālah. Innahum ittakhadhū ash-shayāṭīna awliyāʾa min dūni Allāh wa yaḥsabūn annahum muhtadūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's divine wisdom in guiding some people to truth while allowing others to fall into misguidance as a consequence of their own choices and actions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that those who are misguided do so because they have taken the devils (shayāṭīn) as their allies and protectors instead of Allah, yet they delude themselves into believing they are rightly guided. The ayah emphasizes that misguidance is not arbitrary but is earned through deliberate choice and rejection of divine truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of humanity's relationship with Allah and the consequences of accepting or rejecting divine guidance. It follows the creation narrative and precedes discussions of the Children of Israel, reflecting the broader Meccan theme of free will, accountability, and the distinction between those who submit to Allah and those who rebel.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'No one believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13), which contrasts with the spiritual disease described in this ayah. Additionally, 'The greatest jihad is a man's struggle against his own self' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1621) relates to the internal struggle between following guidance or accepting misguidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that misguidance is often self-inflicted through conscious rejection of truth and alliance with base desires and evil influences, and that we must continually examine our hearts to ensure we are truly following divine guidance rather than deceiving ourselves. It is a powerful reminder that sincere commitment to Allah's path requires constant vigilance against the subtle temptations that lead us astray.