وَٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ 25
Translations
But those who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and spread corruption on earth - for them is the curse, and they will have the worst home.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhīna yanqudūna 'ahda Allāhi min ba'di mīthāqih wa-yaqta'ūna mā amara Allāhu bihī an yūsala wa-yufsidūna fī al-ardi ūlā'ika lahumu al-la'natu wa-lahum sū'u al-dāri
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who break Allah's covenant and contract after establishing it, sever ties that Allah commanded to be joined (such as kinship and social bonds), and spread corruption on earth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these actions—breaking oaths, severing family ties, and general corruption—incur Allah's curse and result in severe punishment in the Hereafter. The ayah emphasizes the gravity of covenant-breaking as a fundamental sin that combines disobedience to Allah with harm to society.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Ra'd (Medinan), which addresses various categories of believers and disbelievers. The broader context discusses the consequences of deeds and moral responsibility. While no specific asbab al-nuzul is recorded for this exact ayah, it reflects the Medinan period's focus on social order, fulfilling obligations, and the prohibition of severing family ties—issues particularly relevant to the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 5984). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who have the best character and those who are best to their families' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), which relates to maintaining the bonds Allah commanded.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must honor their commitments to Allah and maintain the bonds of kinship and community that Allah has enjoined, recognizing that breach of these obligations brings divine displeasure and worldly consequences. This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that personal integrity and social responsibility are intertwined aspects of faithful obedience.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ
Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ
For him [i.e., each one] are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allāh intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.
وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَـٰوِرَٰتٌ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَـٰبٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَآءٍ وَٰحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلْأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in [quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
وَإِن مَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ وَعَلَيْنَا ٱلْحِسَابُ
And whether We show you part of what We promise them or take you in death, upon you is only the [duty of] notification, and upon Us is the account.