لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 188
Translations
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Lā tahsabanna alladhīna yafrahūna bimā ataw wa-yuhihhūna an yuhmadū bimā lam yaf'alū falā tahsabannnahum bimafāzatin min al-'adhāb wa-lahum 'adhābun alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who rejoice in their deeds and love to be praised for actions they did not perform, warning them not to think they will escape punishment. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this refers to those who boast about their wealth, knowledge, or charity while simultaneously accepting false praise or misrepresenting their accomplishments. The ayah emphasizes that such arrogance and deception are grave spiritual diseases that will result in painful punishment in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran's broader discussion of character and spiritual attributes revealed in Medina. The context relates to warnings against hypocrisy (nifāq) and vanity among the Muslim community, addressing those who perform good deeds for show and worldly recognition rather than sincere devotion to Allah. It connects to the surah's broader theme of distinguishing between sincere believers and those with deficient faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever does a deed seeking show and reputation, Allah will expose him on the Day of Judgment' (Sahih Bukhari 6494). Additionally, the Prophet warned: 'The most feared thing I fear for you is minor shirk (hidden polytheism)—showing off' (Sunan Ahmad).
Themes
Key Lesson
True righteousness is judged by sincere intention and honest conduct, not by outward appearance, boasting, or the validation others give us. Believers must examine their hearts to ensure they perform good deeds solely for Allah's pleasure, not for worldly praise or self-aggrandizement.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Similar situations [as yours] have passed on before you, so proceed throughout the earth and observe how was the end of those who denied.
ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَابَهُمُ ٱلْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
Those [believers] who responded to Allāh and the Messenger after injury had struck them. For those who did good among them and feared Allāh is a great reward -
وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُۥ ۗ وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِىَ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the verses of Allāh and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allāh has [indeed] been guided to a straight path.
مَثَلُ مَا يُنفِقُونَ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ رِيحٍ فِيهَا صِرٌّ أَصَابَتْ حَرْثَ قَوْمٍ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَأَهْلَكَتْهُ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَـٰكِنْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
The example of what they spend in this worldly life is like that of a wind containing frost which strikes the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves [i.e., sinned] and destroys it. And Allāh has not wronged them, but they wrong themselves.