فَمَنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 94
Translations
And whoever invents about Allāh untruth after that - then those are [truly] the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Fa-mani iftara ala-llahi al-kidhba min ba'di dhalika fa-ula'ika hum al-zalimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that whoever fabricates lies and attributes them to Allah after the truth has been made clear is among the wrongdoers (zalimun). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a severe condemnation of those who deliberately distort divine guidance, whether through inventing false religious rulings, denying established truths, or misrepresenting Islamic teachings. The ayah emphasizes that such deliberate fabrication against Allah constitutes a grave injustice both against the Divine and against humanity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of religious truth and the covenant made with the People of the Book. It follows verses addressing the distortions made by some Jewish and Christian scholars regarding the Torah and their rejection of clear signs. The immediate context concerns those who knowingly alter or deny divine revelation after understanding it clearly.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever deliberately attributes a lie to me, let him take his place in Hell' (Sahih Bukhari 1291). Additionally, the Prophet warned against fabricating hadiths: 'Whoever lies about me intentionally, then let him prepare his seat in the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 4).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that intentionally misrepresenting Islam or attributing false teachings to Allah is a grave sin that demonstrates profound injustice. Believers must be vigilant in preserving the authenticity of Islamic knowledge and guard against both spreading and accepting fabricated religious claims.
Related Ayahs
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers.
هُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
They are [varying] degrees in the sight of Allāh, and Allāh is Seeing of whatever they do.
إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
Muḥammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allāh at all; but Allāh will reward the grateful.