وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 7
Translations
And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allāh untruth while he is being invited to Islām. And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Transliteration
Wa man azlamu mimman iftara ala Allahi al-kidhba wa huwa yuda ila al-islami wa Allahu la yahdī al-qawma al-zalimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who fabricate lies against Allah while being invited to Islam, emphasizing that such deception represents the gravest injustice (zulm). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to those who reject the clear truth of Islam despite understanding it, and deliberately spread falsehoods about Allah and His religion. The ayah concludes that Allah does not guide such unjust people, indicating that their rejection is a consequence of their own hearts being sealed by their deliberate wrongdoing.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Saf was revealed in Madinah during the Prophet's engagement with the People of the Book and munafiqun (hypocrites). This ayah is situated within a passage addressing those who reject the Prophet's message despite its clarity, and it may specifically reference the disbelief of certain Jewish and Christian groups who twisted scriptures and opposed Islam while understanding its truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worst lie is when a man lies about his lineage' (Sahih Bukhari). More broadly, Surah At-Taubah 9:34 similarly condemns those who conceal truth: 'Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price...'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that willful rejection of truth and deliberate falsehood about Allah's religion represent the most severe forms of injustice, carrying spiritual consequences that extend beyond this life. For believers today, it serves as a warning against compromising truthfulness and reminds us that sincerity in accepting divine guidance is essential for remaining on the right path.