Surah 35

Surah 35:5

"People! Surely the promise of God is true, so (do) not let this present life deceive you, and (do) not let the Deceiver deceive you about God."
Consolation in the fact that the previous Messengers were denied, and a reminder of the Resurrection Verses 35:4-6
Show Full Scripture Context (35:4-6) — 3 Verses
Verse 4

وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدۡ كُذِّبَتۡ رُسُلٞ مِّن قَبۡلِكَۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ

If they call you a liar, (know that) messengers have been called liars before you. To God all affairs are returned.

Verse 5

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ

People! Surely the promise of God is true, so (do) not let this present life deceive you, and (do) not let the Deceiver deceive you about God.

Verse 6

إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ فَٱتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّاۚ إِنَّمَا يَدۡعُواْ حِزۡبَهُۥ لِيَكُونُواْ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

Surely Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy. He only calls his faction so that they may be among the companions of the blazing (Fire).

Allah says: ‘Even if these idolators who associate others with Allah disbelieve in you, O Muhammad, and go against the Message of Tawhid that you have brought, you have an example in the Messengers who came before you.’ They also brought a clear Message to their people and told them to worship Allah alone, but their people denied them and went against them.

Quoted Scripture
"And to Allah return all matters (for decision)."

means, “We will requite them for that in full.’ Then Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"O mankind! Verily, the promise of Allah is true."

meaning the Resurrection will undoubtedy come to pass.

Quoted Scripture
"So, let not this present life deceive you,"

means, this life is as nothing in compare to the great good that Allah has promised to His close friends and the followers of His Messengers, so do not let these transient attractions distract you from that which is lasting.’

Quoted Scripture
"and let not the chief deceiver deceive you about Allah."

This refers to Shaytan, as stated by Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. Meaning, do not let the Shaytan tempt you and divert you away from following the Messengers of Allah and believing what they say, for he is the chief deceiver and arch-liar. This Ayah is like the Ayah that appears at the end of Surah Luqmdn:
{let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver deceive you about Allah } (31:33).

Then Allah tells us of the enmity of Iblis towards the sons of Adam:
{Surely, Shaytan is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. }

meaning, “he has declared his enmity towards you, so be even more hostile towards him, oppose him and do not believe the things with which he tries to tempt you.’

Quoted Scripture
"He only invites his followers that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire."

means, “he only wants to misguide you so that you will enter the blazing Fire with him.’ This is a manifest enemy, and we ask Allah, the All-Powerful and Almighty to make us enemies of Shaytan and to make us followers of the Book of Allah and of the way of His Messengers. For He is able to do whatever He wills and He will respond to all supplication. This is like the Ayah:

{And (remember) when We said to the angels: " Prostrate yourselves unto Adam." So they prostrated themselves except Iblis. He was one of the Jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Will you then take him (Iblis) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers .} (18:50)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.