لِّيَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍ 53
Translations
[That is] so He may make what Satan throws in [i.e., asserts] a trial for those within whose hearts is disease and those hard of heart. And indeed, the wrongdoers are in extreme dissension.
Transliteration
Liyaj'ala maa yulqee ash-shaytaanu fitnatan lilladhina fee quloobihim maradun walqaasiyati quloobuhum wa inna adh-dhalimeen lafee shiqaqin ba'eed
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains that Allah permits Satan's whispers and insinuations to become a trial for those whose hearts are diseased with doubt, hypocrisy, or weakness of faith, and for those whose hearts are hardened and sealed. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse demonstrates Allah's divine wisdom in testing His servants—Satan's temptations cannot harm the pure-hearted believers, but serve as a sieve to expose the weakness of those with spiritual ailments. The verse concludes that the wrongdoers are in deep opposition and discord with Allah's guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj's discussion of divine revelation and the conflict between truth and falsehood. It addresses the broader Medinan struggle between believers and those with hypocrisy or hardened hearts who resisted the Prophet's message. The verse provides context for understanding why some accept faith while others reject it—attributing this to the state of their hearts rather than a deficiency in the message itself.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The hearts of all the sons of Adam are between two fingers of the Most Merciful as one heart. He turns them as He wishes' (Sahih Muslim 2654). Also relevant: 'Verily, an evil soul whispers to the son of Adam, and an angel whispers to him' (Tirmidhi 2889), illustrating Satan's role in temptation.
Themes
Key Lesson
A believer's protection against Satan's whispers lies not in the absence of temptation, but in maintaining a healthy, pure heart through faith, remembrance of Allah, and obedience. This ayah teaches us that our spiritual state—whether our hearts are diseased or sound—determines whether trials become stepping stones to righteousness or stumbling blocks to ruin.