وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ 26
Translations
And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability.
Transliteration
Wa mathalu kalimatin khabīthatin ka shajaratin khabīthatin ijtuththa min fawqi al-ardi mā laha min qarār
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the parable of an evil word (kalimat khabīthah) likened to an evil tree uprooted from above the earth with no stability or foundation. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as referring to false beliefs, disbelief (kufr), or corrupt speech that lacks roots in truth and cannot endure, contrasting with the parable of a good word in the preceding ayah (14:24). The imagery emphasizes how falsehood is inherently unstable and destined to fail, while truth remains eternally grounded.
Revelation Context
Surah Ibrahim is a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists of Mecca and their rejection of monotheism. This ayah appears within a section comparing the parable of a good word with a fruitful tree (14:24-25) against an evil word with a fruitless, uprooted tree (14:26). The context emphasizes the fundamental difference between divine truth and human falsehood, serving as a warning to those who reject Allah's message.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this specific ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains reports where the Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of truthful speech. Additionally, Al-Tirmidhi records hadith regarding the instability of falsehood and its ultimate destruction, thematically aligned with this parable's message about the futility of false beliefs.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as an uprooted tree cannot survive or produce fruit, false beliefs and corrupt words lack substantive foundation and will ultimately be exposed and rejected. This ayah encourages believers to anchor themselves in truth and divine guidance, which alone provides lasting stability and spiritual fruitfulness in both this life and the next.