سَنُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ بِمَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 151
Translations
We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allāh of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Sanuqlī fī qulūbi alladhīna kafarū ar-ru'b bimā ashrakū billāhi mā lam yunazzil bihī sultānā, wa-ma'wāhum an-nār, wa-bi'sa mathwā adh-dhālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah announces that He will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve and associate partners with Him without any scriptural authority or proof. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as a divine consequence that manifests both spiritually—through the weakness of their conviction—and practically, as seen in Islamic military victories where smaller Muslim forces defeated larger pagan armies through the psychological impact of divine support. The ayah concludes with the ultimate punishment: Hellfire is their abode, and what an evil dwelling place it is for the wrongdoers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran, revealed in Madinah during the period of early Islamic military struggles. It relates to the Battle of Uhud and the broader theme of Allah's support for the believers against those who reject His message and commit shirk (associating partners with Allah). The surah emphasizes the consequences of disbelief and the divine protection granted to those who truly submit to Allah.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4:52:79 reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) was granted victory through terror cast into the enemies' hearts—'I have been made victorious by awe (cast in the hearts of enemies).' Additionally, Sunan Abu Dawud reports hadiths about the psychological and spiritual weakness that afflicts those far from Allah's guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that those who reject Allah's clear guidance and ascribe partners to Him face divine consequences that extend beyond the physical realm to their inner conviction and peace of mind. For believers, it emphasizes that true reliance on Allah and adherence to His message grants them a strength that transcends material advantage.