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
وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ إِذْ نَادَيْنَا وَلَـٰكِن رَّحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
And you were not at the side of the mount when We called [Moses] but [were sent] as a mercy from your Lord to warn a people to whom no warner had come before you that they might be reminded.
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother [i.e., principal city] a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
فَإِن لَّمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَكَ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But if they do not respond to you - then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allāh? Indeed, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفْصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانًا فَأَرْسِلْهُ مَعِىَ رِدْءًا يُصَدِّقُنِىٓ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يُكَذِّبُونِ
And my brother Aaron is more fluent than me in tongue, so send him with me as support, verifying me. Indeed, I fear that they will deny me."