إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ 4
Translations
Indeed, for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have made pleasing to them their deeds, so they wander blindly.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina la yu'minuna bi-al-akhirah zayyanna lahum a'malahum fahum ya'mahun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that those who reject belief in the Hereafter have been made to perceive their evil deeds as beautiful and attractive, causing them to wander in blindness and delusion. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Allah allows such people's deeds to appear good to them as a form of divine punishment and trial, sealing their hearts from guidance. The phrase 'ya'mahun' (they wander blindly) emphasizes their spiritual blindness and inability to discern right from wrong.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Naml (The Ant), a Meccan surah addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who rejected the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It reflects the broader Quranic theme of how disbelief in the Afterlife leads to moral corruption and spiritual darkness, as those without accountability for their deeds in the next life pursue worldly desires unchecked.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever is given wisdom has been given abundant good' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:269) relates to the opposite condition—those granted understanding reject such spiritual blindness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejecting accountability in the Afterlife inevitably leads to moral decay and the beautification of sin in one's heart. It emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining belief in the Day of Judgment as a safeguard against spiritual blindness and ethical compromise in this life.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعْمَىٰ
And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind."
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُوا۟ ۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, they look at each other, [as if saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they dismiss themselves. Allāh has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Indeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allāh," were arrogant
۞ وَلَوْ رَحِمْنَـٰهُمْ وَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِم مِّن ضُرٍّ لَّلَجُّوا۟ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.