۞ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَذَبَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلصِّدْقِ إِذْ جَآءَهُۥٓ ۚ أَلَيْسَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 32
Translations
So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allāh and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the disbelievers?
Transliteration
Faman azlamu mimman kadhaba alallahi wa kadhdhaba bialssidqi idha jaahu alaysa fee jahannama mathwan lilkafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rhetorically questions who is greater in wrongdoing than one who attributes lies to Allah and rejects the truth when it comes to him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to those who reject the Qur'an and the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him) despite clear evidence. The ayah affirms that such people have Hell as their eternal abode, emphasizing that rejection of truth after its manifestation is the gravest form of injustice and disbelief.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs about monotheism, the resurrection, and the consequences of disbelief. This particular ayah comes within a section refuting polytheism and emphasizing the severity of rejecting divine truth. The context is Meccan, dealing with the pagan Arabs' rejection of the Qur'an and Muhammad's message despite its clarity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to ascribe partners to Allah (shirk)' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the gravity of lying upon Allah: 'Whoever deliberately lies about me, let him take his seat in Hell' (Sahih Muslim 5).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that knowingly rejecting truth after it has been made clear is among the gravest sins, as it combines both falsehood against Allah and deliberate denial of His signs. For believers today, it serves as a reminder of the importance of sincerely seeking and accepting truth, and the severe consequences of arrogant rejection of divine guidance.