ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 19
Translations
Who averted [people] from the way of Allāh and sought to make it [seem] deviant while they, concerning the Hereafter, were disbelievers.
Transliteration
Alladhina yasuddun 'an sabili-llahi wa yabghunaha 'iwajan wa hum bi-l-akhirati hum kafiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who turn people away from the path of Allah and seek to make it crooked/deviant, while denying the Hereafter. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these are the disbelievers and those who actively obstruct others from faith through deception and distortion of the truth. Their rejection of the Hereafter is the root cause of their deviation, as denial of divine accountability embolds them in their rejection of Allah's straight path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes divine guidance and warning against those who reject it. It follows the discussion of previous nations and their rejection of prophets, establishing a pattern of how people actively work against God's path rather than merely being negligent. The context illustrates the obstinacy of the Meccan disbelievers who not only rejected the message themselves but actively campaigned against its acceptance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward similar to that of its doer' (Sahih Muslim 1893). Conversely, the concept of leading others astray and turning them from the path is condemned in numerous hadiths, including references to those who distort religion for worldly gain (See Jami' at-Tirmidhi on those who misguide others).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against both personal deviation from Allah's path and the greater sin of actively misleading others away from faith. For believers, it underscores the importance of remaining steadfast on the straight path and protecting others from those who seek to corrupt religion, while recognizing that ultimate guidance comes from Allah alone.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ يَـٰنُوحُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَـٰلِحٍ ۖ فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَعِظُكَ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰهُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِىٓ ءَالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
They said, "O Hūd, you have not brought us clear evidence, and we are not ones to leave our gods on your say-so. Nor are we believers in you.
وَلَا يَنفَعُكُمْ نُصْحِىٓ إِنْ أَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَنصَحَ لَكُمْ إِن كَانَ ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يُغْوِيَكُمْ ۚ هُوَ رَبُّكُمْ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And my advice will not benefit you - although I wished to advise you - if Allāh should intend to put you in error. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned."
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ لَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَالًا ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِطَارِدِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَـٰكِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُمْ قَوْمًا تَجْهَلُونَ
And O my people, I ask not of you for it any wealth. My reward is not but from Allāh. And I am not one to drive away those who have believed. Indeed, they will meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people behaving ignorantly.