Al-Hajj · Ayah 9

ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِۦ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ ۖ وَنُذِيقُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ 9

Translations

Twisting his neck [in arrogance] to mislead [people] from the way of Allāh. For him in the world is disgrace, and We will make him taste on the Day of Resurrection the punishment of the Burning Fire [while it is said],

Transliteration

Thani 'itfihi liyudilla 'an sabili Allah, lahu fi al-dunya khizy wa nudhiqhu yawma al-qiyamati adhaba al-hariq

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah describes those who turn away from the path of Allah with arrogance and pride, twisting their necks in defiance. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret 'thani 'itfihi' (turning his side/shoulder) as a metaphor for stubborn rejection and disdain toward divine guidance. The ayah warns that such people will face disgrace in this worldly life and will taste the punishment of the Hellfire on the Day of Judgment—a severe consequence for deliberate misguidance and leading others astray from Allah's path.

Revelation Context

This ayah is part of Surah Al-Hajj, a Medinan surah dealing with themes of pilgrimage, faith, and divine judgment. It appears in a passage addressing those who reject Allah's signs and turn away with arrogance, contextualizing the spiritual corruption of hearts that refuse guidance despite clear signs being presented to them.

Related Hadiths

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worst of people in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be the double-faced person who appears to some people with one face and to others with another face.' (Sahih Bukhari 3484) This relates to the theme of turning away and hypocrisy mentioned in the ayah.

Themes

Arrogance and pride in rejecting divine guidanceConsequences of deliberate misguidanceDisgrace in this life and punishment in the HereafterThe danger of turning away from Allah's path

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches that rejection of truth driven by arrogance carries immediate social shame and ultimate divine punishment. Believers should examine their hearts for any tendency to dismiss guidance and remain humble before Allah's signs, recognizing that stubborn pride leads only to ruin in both worlds.

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Related Ayahs

22:54Al-Hajj

وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

And so those who were given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord and [therefore] believe in it, and their hearts humbly submit to it. And indeed is Allāh the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.

22:45Al-Hajj

فَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ فَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَبِئْرٍ مُّعَطَّلَةٍ وَقَصْرٍ مَّشِيدٍ

And how many a city did We destroy while it was committing wrong - so it is [now] fallen into ruin - and [how many] an abandoned well and [how many] a lofty palace.

22:73Al-Hajj

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ

O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.

22:71Al-Hajj

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَمَا لَيْسَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ

And they worship besides Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority and that of which they have no knowledge. And there will not be for the wrongdoers any helper.