Surah 4

Surah 4:168

"Surely those who disbelieve and do evil – God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them (to any) road,"
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 4:166-170
Show Full Scripture Context (4:166-170) — 5 Verses
Verse 166

لَّـٰكِنِ ٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيۡكَۖ أَنزَلَهُۥ بِعِلۡمِهِۦۖ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَشۡهَدُونَۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

But God bears witness to what He has sent down to you – He sent it down with His knowledge – and the angels (also) bear witness. Yet God is sufficient as a witness.

Verse 167

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ ضَلَٰلَۢا بَعِيدًا

Surely those who disbelieve and keep (people) from the way of God – they have gone very far astray.

Verse 168

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَظَلَمُواْ لَمۡ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغۡفِرَ لَهُمۡ وَلَا لِيَهۡدِيَهُمۡ طَرِيقًا

Surely those who disbelieve and do evil – God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them (to any) road,

Verse 169

إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدٗاۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٗا

except the road to Gehenna, there to remain forever. That is easy for God.

Verse 170

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡ فَـَٔامِنُواْ خَيۡرٗا لَّكُمۡۚ وَإِن تَكۡفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا

People! The messenger has brought you the truth from your Lord, so believe! (It will be) better for you. But if you disbelieve – surely to God (belongs) whatever is in the heavens and the earth. God is knowing, wise.

Allah’s statement

^ Verily, We have inspired you .

emphasized the Prophet’s prophethood and refuted the idolaters and People of the Scripture who denied him. Allah said,

iBut Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down unto you ,»

meaning, even if they deny, defy and disbelieve in you, O Muhammad, Allah testifies that you are His Messenger to whom He sent down His Book, the Glorious Qur’an that,

iFalsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it, (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise. $

Allah then said,

4He has sent it down with His knowledge, $

The knowledge of His that He willed His servants to have access to. Knowledge about the clear signs of guidance and truth, what Allah likes and is pleased with, what He dislikes and is displeased with, and knowledge of the Unseen, such as the past and the future. This also includes knowledge about His honorable attributes that no sent Messenger or illustrious angel can even know without Allah’s leave. Similarly, Allah said,

4And they will never compass anything of His knowledge except that which He wills. $ and,

4but they will never compass anything of His knowledge .)

Allah’s statement.

iand the angels bear witness.) to the truth of what you came with and what was revealed and sent down to you, along with Allah’s testimony to the same,

4And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Witness.) Allah said.

iVerily, those who disbelieve and prevent (others) from the path of Allah, they have certainly strayed far away.)

For they are disbelievers themselves and do not follow the truth. They strive hard to prevent people from following and embracing Allah’s path. Therefore, they have defied the truth, deviated, and strayed far away from it. Allah also mentions His judgment against those who disbelieve in His Ayat, Book and Messenger, those who wrong themselves by their disbelief and hindering others from His path, committing sins and violating His prohibitions. Allah states that He will not forgive them;

inor will He guide them to a way (that is, of good).)

4 Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever...) and this is the exception. Allah then said,

40 mankind! Verily, there has come to you the Messenger with the truth from your Lord, so believe in him, it is better for you.)

This Ayah means, Muhammad jg has come to you with guidance, the religion of truth and clear proof from Allah. Therefore, believe in what he has brought you and follow him, for this is better for you. Allah then said,

  • But *f you disbelieve, then certainly to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth.} Allah is far too rich than to need you or your faith, and no harm could ever affect Him because of your disbelief. Allah said in another Ayah,

iAnd Musa said: "If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allah is Rich (Free of all needs), Owner of all praise."}

Allah said here,

iAnd Allah is Ever All-Knowing,}

He knows those who deserve to be guided, and He will guide them. He also knows those who deserve deviation, and He leads them to it,

iAll-Wise} in His statements, actions, legislation and all that He decrees.

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.