وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلْعِزَّةُ بِٱلْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ 206
Translations
And when it is said to him, "Fear Allāh," pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire, and how wretched is the resting place.
Transliteration
Wa-idha qeela lahu ittaqi allaha akhadhat-hu al-'izzatu bi-al-ithm; fahasbuhu jahannamu wa-la-bi'sa al-mihadu
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a person of arrogance and pride who, when advised to fear Allah and refrain from sin, becomes defensive and allows his ego (al-'izzah) to lead him further into transgression. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as depicting someone whose self-esteem and stubborn pride prevent him from accepting divine guidance, making Hell his inevitable destination. The phrase 'fahasbuhu jahannamu' (Hell is sufficient for him) emphasizes that his own choice and character have sealed his fate.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of various types of people and their responses to divine guidance. It follows verses about those who mock believers and precedes verses about hypocrites, forming part of the broader Medinan discourse addressing societal responses to the Prophet's message. The context reflects the challenges faced in Madinah where some individuals rejected admonition due to pride and tribal arrogance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most arrogant person' (related in various collections). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever has an atom's weight of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise' (Sahih Muslim) relates thematically to the destructive nature of the 'izzah (pride/arrogance) mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that intellectual pride and refusal to accept sincere counsel—especially regarding righteousness—are grave spiritual dangers that distance us from Allah's mercy. It teaches that true dignity ('izzah) lies in humility before Allah and acceptance of His guidance, not in defensive arrogance when corrected.