وَمَآ أَضَلَّنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ 99
Translations
And no one misguided us except the criminals.
Transliteration
Wa mā aḍallānā illā al-mujrimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents the words of those who will be in the Hellfire, acknowledging on the Day of Judgment that they were led astray only by the criminals (those who committed sins and rejected guidance). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects the deniers' admission that their deviation was caused by following wrongdoers and sinners, not by Allah's will, as they cannot blame Allah for their own choices. The ayah emphasizes personal accountability while recognizing that evil people influence others toward wickedness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that discusses the fate of disbelievers and the reality of the Day of Judgment. The verse is part of a passage describing the conversation between the people of Hell, where they confess their sins and the factors that led them astray, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers about the consequences of rejecting the Prophet's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'A person follows the religion of his friend, so let each of you consider whom he befriends' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4833). Additionally, the Quran states in 43:37 that Iblis says he will mislead mankind except the sincere servants of Allah, highlighting how evil companions and influences lead people astray.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that while we may be influenced by those around us, we remain fully accountable for our choices and cannot blame others for our spiritual failures. We must carefully choose our companions and reject the influence of wrongdoers, remembering that on the Day of Judgment, such excuses will be invalid.