وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 20
Translations
And Iblees had already confirmed through them his assumption, so they followed him, except for a party of believers.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad saddaqa 'alayhim Iblis zannahu fa-ttaba'uh illa fariqan min al-mu'minin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that Iblis (Satan) confirmed his assumption/suspicion about humanity by leading them astray, and they followed him except for a group of believers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Iblis's 'zann' (assumption) refers to his belief that most humans would disobey Allah and follow him, which was subsequently proven true by the actions of those who rejected guidance. The exception of the believers demonstrates Allah's mercy in preserving a group steadfast in faith despite Satan's relentless efforts.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan chapter addressing the disbelievers of Mecca. This ayah contextualizes the broader struggle between guidance and misguidance, emphasizing how Satan's claims about human weakness are validated in those who reject the message, while the believers remain protected by their adherence to faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Iblis places his throne on water and sends out his troops; the closest to him in rank are those who cause the most fitnah (discord)' (Sahih Muslim 2813). Also relevant is the hadith about the covenant taken from the children of Adam regarding tawhid (Islamic Monotheism) (Surah 7:172), illustrating humanity's innate capacity to resist Satan's deception.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must recognize that Satan's influence is real and his temptations effective on those who are heedless, yet faith in Allah and adherence to His guidance provides genuine protection. The existence of steadfast believers in every generation proves that Satan's dominion is limited and that resistance to evil is always possible through sincere faith.
Related Ayahs
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allāh." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.
فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يَمْلِكُ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ نَّفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا وَنَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ
But today [i.e., the Day of Judgement] you do not hold for one another [the power of] benefit or harm, and We will say to those who wronged, "Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you used to deny."
وَكَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَمَا بَلَغُوا۟ مِعْشَارَ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ رُسُلِى ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
And those before them denied, and they [i.e., the people of Makkah] have not attained a tenth of what We had given them. But they [i.e., the former peoples] denied My messengers, so how [terrible] was My reproach.
قُلْ أَرُونِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَلْحَقْتُم بِهِۦ شُرَكَآءَ ۖ كَلَّا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Say, "Show me those whom you have attached to Him as partners. No! Rather, He [alone] is Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."