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
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
[Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."
وَهِىَ تَجْرِى بِهِمْ فِى مَوْجٍ كَٱلْجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ٱبْنَهُۥ وَكَانَ فِى مَعْزِلٍ يَـٰبُنَىَّ ٱرْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers."
تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَآ إِلَيْكَ ۖ مَا كُنتَ تَعْلَمُهَآ أَنتَ وَلَا قَوْمُكَ مِن قَبْلِ هَـٰذَا ۖ فَٱصْبِرْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْعَـٰقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.
إِن نَّقُولُ إِلَّا ٱعْتَرَىٰكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوٓءٍ ۗ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ وَٱشْهَدُوٓا۟ أَنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil [i.e., insanity]." He said, "Indeed, I call Allāh to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allāh