يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ 168
Translations
O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nasu kulu mimma fi al-ardi halalan tayyiban wa la tattabi'u khutuwati ash-shaytani innahu lakum 'aduwwun mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses all of humanity, permitting consumption of what is lawful (halal) and good (tayyib) from the earth's provisions while forbidding the pursuit of Satan's pathways. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the verse establishes the principle that Allah has made sustenance available and lawful for humanity, and encourages us to enjoy these blessings while maintaining spiritual consciousness and avoiding both haram (forbidden) foods and the sinful ways Satan tempts us toward. The 'steps of Satan' refer to gradual descent into disobedience through seemingly small transgressions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah, which addresses the Muslim community on matters of law, ethics, and daily conduct. It follows verses about the Qibla change and precedes dietary laws, establishing a foundational principle: that halal sustenance is a divine gift and responsibility, with Satan as humanity's declared enemy seeking to misguide our choices in consumption and behavior.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The flesh that grows from haram sustenance, the Fire is more deserving of it' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing the spiritual consequences of unlawful consumption.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah has provided abundantly for our needs through lawful means, and our consumption should reflect consciousness of this divine trust and awareness of Satan's schemes to lead us astray—whether through unlawful food, greed, or other spiritual pitfalls. It teaches that exercising restraint and choosing the halal path is both a practical obedience and a spiritual defense against corruption.
Related Ayahs
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَا۟ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ عُقْدَةُ ٱلنِّكَاحِ ۚ وَأَن تَعْفُوٓا۟ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have already specified for them an obligation, then [give] half of what you specified - unless they forego the right or the one in whose hand is the marriage contract foregoes it. And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed Allāh, of whatever you do, is Seeing.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Those will have a share of what they have earned, and Allāh is swift in account.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا وَصِيَّةً لِّأَزْوَٰجِهِم مَّتَـٰعًا إِلَى ٱلْحَوْلِ غَيْرَ إِخْرَاجٍ ۚ فَإِنْ خَرَجْنَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى مَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ مِن مَّعْرُوفٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.