وَٱلَّذِينَ سَعَوْا۟ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مُعَـٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ 51
Translations
But the ones who strove against Our verses, [seeking] to cause failure - those are the companions of Hellfire.
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna sa'aw fī āyātinā mu'ājizīn, ulā'ika aṣḥābu al-jahīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who strive to render Allah's signs ineffective or to obstruct them, declaring that such people are the companions of Hell. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'mu'ājizīn' (striving to obstruct/render powerless) as referring to those who actively resist, deny, or attempt to nullify Allah's clear signs and miracles. The ayah emphasizes that deliberate opposition to divine truth carries severe consequences in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hajj, a Medinan chapter that addresses both believers and disbelievers. The broader context discusses various categories of people—the believers who obey, those who are in doubt, and those who actively oppose Allah's signs. This particular verse is part of a series addressing the stubborn rejection of disbelievers in Medina and Mecca who witnessed Allah's signs yet persisted in denial.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The most hated of people to Allah is the most stubborn in disbelief' (related to concepts in Tirmidhi and other collections). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari reminds that 'Whoever conceals knowledge which Allah has revealed, Allah will gag him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Judgment,' which relates thematically to the active suppression of Allah's signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against not merely disbelieving, but actively working to undermine or suppress truth and divine guidance. For modern readers, it encourages honest engagement with divine signs and truth, cautioning against allowing pride, arrogance, or ulterior motives to lead one into deliberate rejection and obstruction of what one knows to be right.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِىٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allāh abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allāh makes precise His verses. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ ۗ وَأُحِلَّتْ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمُ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلرِّجْسَ مِنَ ٱلْأَوْثَـٰنِ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ قَوْلَ ٱلزُّورِ
That [has been commanded], and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allāh - it is best for him in the sight of his Lord. And permitted to you are the grazing livestock, except what is recited to you. So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement,
وَإِن جَـٰدَلُوكَ فَقُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
And if they dispute with you, then say, "Allāh is most knowing of what you do.
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ تَعْرِفُ فِى وُجُوهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلْمُنكَرَ ۖ يَكَادُونَ يَسْطُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۗ قُلْ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمُ ۗ ٱلنَّارُ وَعَدَهَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, you recognize in the faces of those who disbelieve disapproval. They are almost on the verge of assaulting those who recite to them Our verses. Say, "Then shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that? [It is] the Fire which Allāh has promised those who disbelieve, and wretched is the destination."