وَيَدْعُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ بِٱلشَّرِّ دُعَآءَهُۥ بِٱلْخَيْرِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ عَجُولًا 11
Translations
And man supplicates for evil [when angry] as he supplicates for good, and man is ever hasty.
Transliteration
Wa yad'u al-insānu bi-ash-sharri du'ā'ahu bi-al-khayr wa kāna al-insānu 'ajūlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the human tendency to invoke evil upon himself with the same urgency and fervor that he invokes good, revealing the hastiness and impatience inherent in human nature. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain this as referring to a person who, in moments of anger or distress, curses himself, his family, or his wealth—forgetting that such invocations may be answered by Allah. The ayah concludes by emphasizing that impatience ('ajal) is a defining characteristic of mankind, leading him to make hasty decisions and supplications without reflection.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Isra, which addresses various aspects of human nature and behavior. The context follows discussions of human ingratitude and disobedience. While no specific historical asbab al-nuzul is recorded for this particular verse, it reflects the broader Meccan theme of critiquing human weakness and the need for divine guidance. The surah emphasizes the consequences of human choices and the importance of patience and gratitude.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Do not curse yourselves, do not curse your children, do not curse your wealth, lest you coincide with an hour in which Allah grants [the curse]' (Sunan Abu Dawud 5090). Additionally, the Prophet warned against hasty supplications: 'None of you should invoke curse upon himself, curse upon his children, or curse upon his wealth' (Sahih Muslim 3009).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to be mindful of our words and supplications, especially during moments of anger or distress, as they may be answered by Allah. We must cultivate patience, reflection, and conscious awareness before invoking anything upon ourselves or others, recognizing that hasty speech can have serious spiritual consequences.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا
And there is no city but that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That has ever been in the Register inscribed.
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allāh] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.
فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا
So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours - those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ نُوحٍ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا
And how many have We destroyed from the generations after Noah. And sufficient is your Lord, concerning the sins of His servants, as Aware and Seeing.