ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ زِدْنَـٰهُمْ عَذَابًا فَوْقَ ٱلْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يُفْسِدُونَ 88
Translations
Those who disbelieved and averted [others] from the way of Allāh - We will increase them in punishment over [their] punishment for what corruption they were causing.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna kafarū wa-saddū 'an sabīli-llāhi zidnāhum 'adhāban fawqa-l-'adhābi bimā kānū yufsidūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who disbelieve and actively prevent others from following Allah's path, stating that Allah will increase their punishment beyond the standard punishment because of their corruption and spreading of harm. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the additional punishment ('adhāban fawqa-l-'adhāb) is specifically for their dual transgression: rejecting faith and actively misguiding others, which compounds their sin and its consequence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nahl's discussion of various groups of people and their spiritual states. It addresses the particular aggravation of those who not only disbelieve but actively work as obstacles to Allah's path, a common theme in Meccan surahs describing the opposition faced by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Quraysh who both rejected Islam and prevented others from accepting it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of those who follow him, without it detracting from their rewards at all. And whoever calls to misguidance will have a sin similar to the sins of those who follow him, without it detracting from their sins at all.' (Sahih Muslim 2674). This highlights why those who actively spread misguidance face compounded punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that preventing others from faith is a graver sin than personal disbelief alone, reminding us that our influence on others carries spiritual weight. It encourages believers to be cautious about their role in guiding or misleading others, as accountability extends beyond personal choices to their broader impact on society.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَلَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And if Allāh had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَىْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ
And Allāh created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Competent.
يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ۩
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.