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
۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا
And your Lord has decreed that you worship not except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا
Look how We have favored [in provision] some of them over others. But the Hereafter is greater in degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا
Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ يَنۢبُوعًا
And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring