ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى خَوْضٍ يَلْعَبُونَ 12
Translations
Who are in [empty] discourse amusing themselves.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna hum fī khawḍin yalʿabūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who engage in vain discourse and frivolous play, heedless of the divine message. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this describes the disbelievers of Mecca who mock the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), preferring idle conversation and amusement over pondering the signs of Allah. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that 'khawḍ' (wading through) signifies their immersion in falsehood, while 'yalʿabūn' (playing) indicates their lack of seriousness regarding matters of faith and accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Tur, a Meccan chapter that powerfully affirms Divine accountability and the resurrection. The ayah is part of a broader passage (52:11-14) contrasting the believers' vigilance with the disbelievers' heedlessness, reflecting the early Islamic period when Meccan polytheists dismissed the Prophet's message through ridicule and empty discourse.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), implying the opposite—those engaged in vain play rather than Quranic reflection—miss this elevated purpose. Additionally, 'Whoever takes the Deen as a jest and mockery, Allah will make him an object of mockery' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2089).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against squandering their precious time on vain pursuits that distract from spiritual growth and remembrance of Allah, urging instead a serious commitment to understanding the Quran and fulfilling one's religious obligations. It reminds us that mocking faith or treating religion casually carries spiritual consequences, and that our words and actions should reflect sincere devotion rather than heedless play.