أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نُزُلًا 102
Translations
Then do those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants instead of Me as allies? Indeed, We have prepared Hell for the disbelievers as a lodging.
Transliteration
Afa-hasiba alladhina kafaru an yattakhidhu ibadi min duni awliya. Inna a'tadna jahannama lil-kafirin nuzulan.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes the disbelievers for their arrogance in supposing they can take Allah's servants (the angels or believers) as protectors and allies instead of Allah alone. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this is a rhetorical reproach (istifham inkari) condemning shirk (polytheism) and false guardianship, with the ayah concluding by affirming that Hell (Jahannam) has been prepared as an unwelcoming reception (nuzul) for those who reject Allah's monotheism.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Kahf, a Meccan chapter revealed during a period of intense polytheistic practices in Mecca. The broader context addresses the themes of tawhid (monotheism) and the consequences of rejecting Allah's oneness, likely responding to the Meccan pagans' intercession beliefs and their reliance on idols and false deities as mediators.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3894): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'No one will enter Paradise except a believer,' which reinforces the theme that only those who maintain sincere tawhid will attain salvation. Additionally, Muslim (2865) records traditions about intercession being exclusively in Allah's hands, directly related to the ayah's condemnation of taking false awliya (guardians).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must recognize that all guardianship, protection, and support ultimately come from Allah alone, and that turning to false intermediaries or deities—whether literal idols or metaphorical substitutes like wealth, status, or people—constitutes a grave spiritual error. This ayah reminds us to examine our hearts and ensure our primary allegiance and trust are directed exclusively toward Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَن ذِى ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا
And they ask you, [O Muḥammad], about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, "I will recite to you about him a report."
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِىَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِى عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّآ أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّآ أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا
Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [i.e., the west], he found it [as if] setting in a body of dark water, and he found near it a people. We [i.e., Allāh] said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا۟ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِى وَرُسُلِى هُزُوًا
That is their recompense - Hell - for what they denied and [because] they took My signs and My messengers in ridicule.