وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ 36
Translations
But the ones who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhina kadhdhaba bi-ayatina wa-astakbara 'anha ula'ika ashabu al-nari hum fiha khalidun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who reject Allah's signs and turn away in arrogance, declaring them to be inhabitants of Hell who will remain therein eternally. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the combination of denial (takdhib) and arrogance (istikbar) constitutes a grave transgression that seals one's fate, as arrogance prevents acceptance of truth even when signs are presented. The eternal nature of their punishment (khalidun) reflects the finality of their choice to reject guidance while possessing the capacity to understand it.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of a broader Meccan passage addressing the Quraysh's rejection of the Prophet Muhammad and the signs of Allah. It comes within the narrative of Surah Al-A'raf, which contrasts the believers who accept the signs with the disbelievers who arrogantly reject them, establishing the consequences of each choice. The thematic context emphasizes that rejection coupled with pride is an unforgivable offense.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'The most hated person to Allah is the most proud and arrogant' (Sahih Bukhari 3895). Additionally, the Prophet warned: 'Whoever has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will not enter Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 91), directly relating to the condition of istikbar mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that both intellectual rejection of truth and spiritual arrogance are destructive; we must cultivate humility and openness to Allah's guidance. Modern readers should reflect on how arrogance blinds the heart from recognizing truth and how sincere submission requires both intellectual acceptance and humble surrender to Allah's will.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدْعُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَـٰهُ بِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّهُۥٓ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث ۚ ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۚ فَٱقْصُصِ ٱلْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And if We had willed, We could have elevated him thereby, but he adhered [instead] to the earth and followed his own desire. So his example is like that of the dog: if you chase him, he pants, or if you leave him, he [still] pants. That is the example of the people who denied Our signs. So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought.
وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا كِذَّابًا
And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.
وَتِلْكَ عَادٌ ۖ جَحَدُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَعَصَوْا۟ رُسُلَهُۥ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ
And that was ʿAad, who rejected the signs of their Lord and disobeyed His messengers and followed the order of every obstinate tyrant.