أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ تَؤُزُّهُمْ أَزًّا 83
Translations
Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them [to evil] with [constant] incitement?
Transliteration
Alam tara anna arsalna ash-shayatina ala al-kafirina tazuzuhum azza
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah sends the devils upon the disbelievers to incite and urge them towards sin and rebellion. The word 'tazuzz' (تؤز) means to drive, incite, or instigate with persistence. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is not compulsion but rather the devils tempting and encouraging the disbelievers in their disbelief and sinful deeds, which is a form of divine justice—allowing those who reject truth to be further led astray by their chosen companions among the jinn.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah of Maryam, which deals with themes of monotheism, prophethood, and the fate of believers and disbelievers. The broader context discusses how those who reject Allah's signs will face consequences, with this ayah illustrating one such consequence: being abandoned to their own desires and the whispers of Satan, which is itself a punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, Satan circulates in the son of Adam like blood circulates in the body' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'When one of you becomes angry, let him remain silent,' which relates to resisting the satanic incitement described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah allows the devils to tempt those who persistently reject truth as a form of justice and abandonment—not as oppression. For believers, it emphasizes the importance of seeking refuge in Allah from satanic whispers through remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and obedience to His commands, as these are our protection against demonic influence.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established upon the earth as We have not established you? And We sent [rain from] the sky upon them in showers and made rivers flow beneath them; then We destroyed them for their sins and brought forth after them a generation of others.
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ʿAad -
إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Except he who is to [enter and] burn in the Hellfire.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا۟ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا۟ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.