وَقُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا 81
Translations
And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart."
Transliteration
Wa qul jaa'a al-haqqu wa zahaqal-batil, inna al-batila kana zuhuuqa.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares the triumph of truth over falsehood, with the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded to proclaim that truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this refers specifically to the advent of Islam and the Qur'an as the ultimate truth, while falsehood—whether idolatry, false doctrines, or satanic deceptions—inevitably perishes. The repetition of the root word (zahaqal-batil, kana zuhuuqa) emphasizes both the immediate reality and the inherent nature of falsehood as something destined to disappear.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet and the early Muslim community, this ayah served as divine reassurance that despite persecution and rejection, the message of Islam would ultimately prevail. The surah's context of the Night Journey emphasizes spiritual victory and the establishment of divine truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best jihad is a word of justice before a tyrannical ruler' (Sunan Ibn Majah and Sunan At-Tirmidhi), reflecting the principle of speaking truth against falsehood. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari records: 'Truth has come and falsehood has perished; indeed falsehood is ever bound to perish' (referencing this very ayah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that despite worldly challenges and the apparent strength of falsehood, truth ultimately prevails through divine will—encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and principles. For modern readers, it serves as a timeless reminder that speaking and standing for truth, even when opposed, aligns with the natural order of creation and divine justice.