أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ 21
Translations
Those are the ones who will have lost themselves, and lost from them is what they used to invent.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika alladhīna khasirū anfusahum wa dallā 'anhum mā kānū yaftarūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who have lost themselves (their souls) by rejecting faith and following falsehood, and from whom their fabricated gods and idols will depart on the Day of Judgment, unable to help them. Ibn Kathir explains that these are the disbelievers who invented false deities and false doctrines, only to find that their false gods abandon them when they need them most, resulting in complete loss and ruin in the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Hud's discussion of various nations that rejected their prophets. It comes after the description of those who turn away from Allah's signs and follows the pattern of warning the Meccan polytheists about the consequences of their idolatry and rejection of Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk)' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Hellfire' (Sahih Muslim 93) relates to the theme of loss mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that rejecting Allah's guidance and following invented false beliefs results in the greatest possible loss—the loss of one's own soul and eternal salvation. It serves as a powerful reminder that no false god, ideology, or worldly distraction can benefit us on the Day of Judgment, urging believers to prioritize their spiritual foundation.
Related Ayahs
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."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَخْبَتُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds and humbled themselves to their Lord - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide eternally therein.
قَالَتْ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌ وَهَـٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ
She said, "Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!"
وَإِنَّ كُلًّا لَّمَّا لَيُوَفِّيَنَّهُمْ رَبُّكَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And indeed, each [of the believers and disbelievers] - your Lord will fully compensate them for their deeds. Indeed, He is Aware of what they do.