فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن صَدَّ عَنْهُ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا 55
Translations
And some among them believed in it, and some among them were averse to it. And sufficient is Hell as a blaze.
Transliteration
Faminhumm man āmana bihī wa minhumm man sadda 'anhu wa kafā bi jahannam sa'īrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Children of Israel's response to Prophet Musa (Moses) and the clear signs he brought them. Some believed in him while others turned away from his message, and Allah warns that Hellfire is sufficient punishment for those who reject the truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this reflects the divided response of the Israelites to divine guidance, emphasizing that clear evidence does not compel belief when hearts reject it.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of the Children of Israel, their covenant with Allah, and their varying responses to prophetic messages. It comes after verses discussing Musa and the Torah, illustrating the historical pattern of some accepting and others rejecting divine guidance—a lesson applicable to the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) own time.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Sahih Bukhari's hadith where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which is fertile soil that absorbs water and brings forth vegetation and grass in abundance, and some of which is hard ground that holds the water and Allah benefits the people with it, and they drink from it and make their animals drink from it and irrigate their crops with it.' This illustrates how the same truth affects people differently.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that receiving clear guidance is not enough—true faith requires a willing heart that actively chooses to accept and follow the message. For believers, it emphasizes the importance of gratitude for being guided, while cautioning against complacency, and for all humanity, it underscores that rejecting divine truth carries serious spiritual consequences.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ ءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ ٱزْدَادُوا۟ كُفْرًا لَّمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ سَبِيلًۢا
Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way.
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَضْلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمًا
That is the bounty from Allāh, and sufficient is Allāh as Knower.
وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَـٰقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا۟ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا
And We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant; and We said to them, "Enter the gate bowing humbly"; and We said to them, "Do not transgress on the sabbath"; and We took from them a solemn covenant.