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.