قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَغْوَيْنَآ أَغْوَيْنَـٰهُمْ كَمَا غَوَيْنَا ۖ تَبَرَّأْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كَانُوٓا۟ إِيَّانَا يَعْبُدُونَ 63
Translations
Those upon whom the word will have come into effect will say, "Our Lord, these are the ones we led to error. We led them to error just as we were in error. We declare our disassociation [from them] to You. They did not used to worship [i.e., obey] us."
Transliteration
Qala alladhina haqqa alayhimu alqawlu rabbana haula alladhina aghwaynahum aghwaynahum kama ghawyna tabarra'na ilayka ma kanu iyyyana ya'budun
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers and those who led others astray will attempt to shift blame by saying, 'Our Lord, these people misled us, so we misled them in return,' and they will disavow any true worship directed toward them. Ibn Kathir explains that this represents the mutual accusations and blame-shifting between leaders and followers in Hell, each trying to escape responsibility for their disbelief. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ayah demonstrates how the arrogant leaders will deny that they sought or desired worship from others, though their actions and pride clearly invited such veneration.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qasas (The Stories), a Meccan surah that repeatedly emphasizes themes of divine guidance and misguidance through historical narratives. This specific verse is part of the eschatological scene describing the Day of Judgment, where the consequences of disbelief and leading others astray are fully manifested. It serves as a powerful warning against following those who reject Allah's signs.
Related Hadiths
The concept is related to a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'Every one of you is a shepherd and will be asked about his flock,' emphasizing that leaders bear responsibility for those they guide. Additionally, hadiths about the Day of Judgment in Sahih Bukhari describe how followers will blame their leaders and leaders will attempt to deny their influence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that neither leaders nor followers can escape accountability for their choices on the Day of Judgment—each person bears responsibility for their own faith and actions. It serves as a reminder that blindly following others in disbelief offers no excuse, and leaders who deliberately lead others astray face severe consequences.
Related Ayahs
أَفَمَن وَعَدْنَـٰهُ وَعْدًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ لَـٰقِيهِ كَمَن مَّتَّعْنَـٰهُ مَتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ هُوَ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْضَرِينَ
Then is he whom We have promised a good promise which he will meet [i.e., obtain] like he for whom We provided enjoyment of worldly life [but] then he is, on the Day of Resurrection, among those presented [for punishment in Hell]?
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِى فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَمَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], He who imposed upon you the Qur’ān will take you back to a place of return. Say, "My Lord is most knowing of who brings guidance and who is in clear error."
فَلَمَّآ أَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَبْطِشَ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ عَدُوٌّ لَّهُمَا قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ أَتُرِيدُ أَن تَقْتُلَنِى كَمَا قَتَلْتَ نَفْسًۢا بِٱلْأَمْسِ ۖ إِن تُرِيدُ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ جَبَّارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُرِيدُ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ
And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, "O Moses, do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amenders."
وَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهَ تِلْقَآءَ مَدْيَنَ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِى سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
And when he directed himself toward Madyan, he said, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way."