إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱرْتَدُّوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَـٰرِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلْهُدَى ۙ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمْ وَأَمْلَىٰ لَهُمْ 25
Translations
Indeed, those who reverted back [to disbelief] after guidance had become clear to them - Satan enticed them and prolonged hope for them.
Transliteration
Inna alladhīna artaddū 'alá adbārihim min ba'da mā tabayyana lahumu al-hudá ash-shaytānu sawwala lahum wa-amlá lahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who turn away from guidance after it has been made clear to them, explaining that Satan has made their actions seem appealing (sawwala) and has given them respite (amlá). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to apostates who reject the truth despite its clarity, with Satan beautifying their deviation and prolonging their time in ignorance. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the Shaytan's role is to embellish falsehood and create false hopes, while ultimate choice and accountability remain with the individual.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Muhammad (a Medinan surah), which addresses the believers regarding those who reject faith and turn back from Islam. The broader context discusses the danger of apostasy and rejection after clear knowledge, likely referencing those from the People of the Book or those who witnessed Islamic miracles yet chose disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever changes his Islamic religion, then kill him' (Sahih Bukhari 6922). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned that Satan's greatest trick is making sin appear beautiful to mankind, which relates directly to the concept of 'sawwala' in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Satan's primary weapon is making evil appear attractive and creating false hope in worldly gains, but we retain full responsibility for our choices; clarity of guidance demands accountability, and turning away from known truth is among the gravest spiritual dangers. Modern readers should guard their hearts against gradual spiritual deviation by actively reinforcing their connection to Islamic knowledge and resisting the beautification of sin in contemporary contexts.
Related Ayahs
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ ۖ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَـٰلَكُم
Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allāh - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allāh is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.
۞ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ دَمَّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَمْثَـٰلُهَا
Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? Allāh destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable.
أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ كَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُم
So is he who is on clear evidence from his Lord like him to whom the evil of his work has been made attractive and they follow their [own] desires?
إِنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْـَٔلْكُمْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.