فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا 8
Translations
And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness,
Transliteration
Fa-alhamaha fujuraha wa-taqwaha
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah inspired the soul with knowledge of both evil (fujur) and piety (taqwa), granting humans the ability and awareness to distinguish between right and wrong. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that Allah has given every soul the innate capacity (fitrah) to recognize righteousness and sin, along with the free will to choose between them. This ayah emphasizes divine justice—humans are not compelled toward sin but are equipped with the moral consciousness necessary to choose obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shams, a Meccan surah that focuses on creation, divine signs, and human moral responsibility. It follows the oath by the sun and other celestial bodies, establishing that just as Allah has perfected creation, He has also perfected the human soul with the capacity to discern right from wrong. The surah continues to emphasize personal accountability for spiritual choices.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every child is born upon the fitrah (natural disposition toward Islam), but his parents make him a Jew, Christian, or Zoroastrian' (Sahih Bukhari 1385). Additionally, 'The most beloved actions to Allah are the most continuous, even if they are few' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4227), emphasizing the human capacity to choose righteous deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that we possess an innate moral compass and the divine gift of choice; we cannot blame our circumstances for sin, as Allah has equipped us with the knowledge to choose righteousness. The modern reader should understand that personal spiritual development requires activating this God-given awareness and consciously choosing piety over base desires.