أَفَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَنۢ بَآءَ بِسَخَطٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 162
Translations
So is one who pursues the pleasure of Allāh like one who brings upon himself the anger of Allāh and whose refuge is Hell? And wretched is the destination.
Transliteration
Afamani ittaba'a ridwana Allahi kaman ba'a bisakhatin mina Allahi wa ma'waahu jahannamu wa bi'sa almaseeru
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical comparison between two contrasting paths: those who follow Allah's pleasure (ridwan) versus those who incur His wrath (sakhat). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the ayah emphasizes the fundamental distinction between the obedient believers who seek Allah's approval through righteous deeds, and those who rebel against Allah's commands and thereby earn His displeasure, whose ultimate destination is Hell. The rhetorical question (Afaman) serves to highlight the obvious impossibility of these two groups being equal in their outcomes and stations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of faith, obedience, and the consequences of following different paths. It follows verses addressing the People of the Book and those who reject Allah's signs. The broader thematic context concerns the contrast between those who accept guidance and those who reject it, particularly relevant to the Medinan period when the Muslim community faced opposition from both external enemies and hypocrites.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'Whoever shows enmity to a friend (wali) of Mine, I declare war upon him' (Sahih Bukhari 5007), emphasizing Allah's pleasure with the obedient. Also relevant is the hadith: 'The most beloved thing to Allah is following His pleasure' (at-Tirmidhi), supporting the theme of seeking ridwan.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that their choices have eternal consequences—pursuing Allah's pleasure through obedience leads to ultimate success, while defiance and rejection lead to certain punishment. For modern readers, it serves as a powerful motivation to align personal decisions with divine commandments, recognizing that seemingly equal external circumstances yield vastly different spiritual outcomes.