يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ 5
Translations
O mankind, indeed the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nasu inna wa'da Allahi haqqun fala taghurrannakumu al-hayatu ad-dunya wa la yaghurrannakum bi-Allahi al-gharur
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses all of humanity, affirming that His promise (of the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter) is absolutely true, and warns them not to be deceived by the allurements and temporary pleasures of worldly life. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that 'the deceiver' (al-gharur) refers to Satan or the deceptive nature of this world itself, which distracts people from remembering Allah and preparing for the afterlife. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ayah serves as a comprehensive warning against becoming so enamored with transient worldly gains that one forgets the eternal consequences of one's actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Fatir (Chapter 35), a Meccan surah that emphasizes monotheism, divine power, and the certainty of the Hereafter. It is positioned within a passage addressing humanity broadly about the reality of resurrection and judgment, reminding people not to be distracted by worldly pursuits from spiritual obligations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The world is cursed, and cursed is what is in it, except for the remembrance of Allah and what is connected to it' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Hadith Qudsi states: 'The world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the disbeliever' (Muslim), emphasizing the temporary nature of worldly pleasures.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to maintain perspective on life's true purpose—preparing for eternity rather than becoming enslaved to temporary material gains. It encourages believers to balance worldly responsibilities with spiritual devotion, recognizing that Satan and the allure of this world are the greatest deceptions we face.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّآ أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلنَّاسَ سُكَـٰرَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَـٰرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ ٱللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allāh is severe.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْكُفَّارَ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ هِىَ حَسْبُهُمْ ۚ وَلَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ
Allāh has promised the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And Allāh has cursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment.
إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوكُم بِمَا تَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ صَرْفًا وَلَا نَصْرًا ۚ وَمَن يَظْلِم مِّنكُمْ نُذِقْهُ عَذَابًا كَبِيرًا
So they will deny you, [disbelievers], in what you say, and you cannot avert [punishment] or [find] help. And whoever commits injustice among you - We will make him taste a great punishment.