وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـٰنٍ مَّرِيدٍ 3
Translations
And of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge and follows every rebellious devil.
Transliteration
Wa mina an-nasi man yujadilu fi-Allah bi-ghayri ilmin wa yattabi'u kulla shayṭanin mariid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who argue and dispute about Allah's religion without knowledge, following every rebellious devil who misleads them. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that such disputation stems from ignorance and arrogance, as these individuals abandon divine guidance in favor of satanic whispers. The phrase 'every rebellious devil' refers to both spiritual shaytans and human devils who spread misguidance.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina, this ayah is part of the broader context of Surah Al-Hajj which addresses theological disputes and clarifies matters of faith. The surah was revealed during a period when various groups—including polytheists, people of the book, and hypocrites—were engaging in vain arguments about monotheism and the message of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This ayah specifically addresses the futility and danger of such baseless disputation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most hated of people to Allah are three: a man who quarrels in the Sacred Mosque, one who seeks revenge outside the limits set by Allah, and one who sheds blood unlawfully' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned against excessive argumentation in religious matters, stating that the worst among people are those who dispute about Allah without knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that sincere faith requires grounding in knowledge and avoiding blind following of opinions—whether from society or one's own desires. In our modern age of information overload and polarization, believers should prioritize seeking authentic Islamic knowledge and avoiding fruitless debates that lack basis in the Quran and authentic Sunnah.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا۟ تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا۟ نُذُورَهُمْ وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا۟ بِٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْعَتِيقِ
Then let them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows and perform ṭawāf around the ancient House."
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَثَمُودُ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - so, before them, did the people of Noah and ʿAad and Thamūd deny [their prophets],
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلْنَـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَآءً ٱلْعَـٰكِفُ فِيهِ وَٱلْبَادِ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍۭ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Indeed, those who have disbelieved and avert [people] from the way of Allāh and [from] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, which We made for the people - equal are the resident therein and one from outside - and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [in religion] by wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment.
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُوا۟ فِيهَا وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Every time they want to get out of it [i.e., Hellfire] from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!"