Surah 40

Surah 40:34

"Certainly Joseph brought you the clear signs before, but you did not stop doubting about what he brought you, until, when he perished, you said, “God will never raise up a messenger after him.” In this way God leads astray anyone who is wanton (and) a doubter.’"
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 40:30-35
Show Full Scripture Context (40:30-35) — 6 Verses
Verse 30

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِيٓ ءَامَنَ يَٰقَوۡمِ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُم مِّثۡلَ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَحۡزَابِ

But the one who believed said, ‘My people! Surely I fear for you something like the Day of the Factions,

Verse 31

مِثۡلَ دَأۡبِ قَوۡمِ نُوحٖ وَعَادٖ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡۚ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلۡمٗا لِّلۡعِبَادِ

like the case of the people of Noah, and ‘Ād, and Thamūd, and those who (came) after them. Yet God does not intend any evil to (His) servants.

Verse 32

وَيَٰقَوۡمِ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلتَّنَادِ

My people! Surely I fear for you the Day of Calling,

Verse 33

يَوۡمَ تُوَلُّونَ مُدۡبِرِينَ مَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۡ عَاصِمٖۗ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٖ

the Day when you will turn back, retreating, having no protector from God. Whoever God leads astray has no guide.

Verse 34

وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ يُوسُفُ مِن قَبۡلُ بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ فَمَا زِلۡتُمۡ فِي شَكّٖ مِّمَّا جَآءَكُم بِهِۦۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلۡتُمۡ لَن يَبۡعَثَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ رَسُولٗاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡرِفٞ مُّرۡتَابٌ

Certainly Joseph brought you the clear signs before, but you did not stop doubting about what he brought you, until, when he perished, you said, “God will never raise up a messenger after him.” In this way God leads astray anyone who is wanton (and) a doubter.’

Verse 35

ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَٰدِلُونَ فِيٓ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيۡرِ سُلۡطَٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمۡۖ كَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطۡبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلۡبِ مُتَكَبِّرٖ جَبَّارٖ

Those who dispute about the signs of God, without any authority having come to them – (that) is a very hateful thing in the sight of God and those who believe. In this way God sets a seal on the heart of every arrogant tyrant.

Here Allah tells us that this righteous man, the believer from among the family of Fir'awn, warned his people of the punishment of Allah in this world and the Hereafter, saying, {O my people! Verily, I fear for you an end like that day (of disaster) of the groups (of old)!} meaning, those of the earlier nations who disbelieved the Messengers of Allah, such as the people of Nuh, ‘Ad, Thamud and the disbelieving nations who came after them, how the punishment of Allah came upon them and they had no one to protect them or ward off that punishment. {And Allah wills no injustice for (His) servants.} means, Allah destroyed them for their sins and for their disbelief in and rejection of His Messengers; this was His command and His decree concerning them that was fulfilled. Then he said: {And, O my people! Verily, I fear for you the Day when there will be mutual calling.} meaning, the Day of Resurrection. {A Day when you will turn your backs and flee} means, running away. {No! There is no refuge! Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day.} (75:11-12). Allah says: {having no protector from Allah.} meaning, ‘you will have no one to protect you from the punishment and torment of Allah.’ {And whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide.} means, whomever Allah sends astray will have no other guide except Him. Allah’s saying: {And indeed Yusuf came to you, in times gone by, with clear signs,} refers to the people of Egypt. Allah sent a Messenger to them before the time of Musa, peace be upon him, in the person of Yusuf, peace be upon him, who attained a high position in the government of the people of Egypt. He was a Messenger who called his people to Allah with justice, but they did not obey him in matters of worshipping Allah, they only obeyed him in worldly matters that pertained to his position in the government. Allah says: {but you ceased not to doubt in that which he brought to you, till when he died, you said: "No Messenger will Allah send after him."} means, ‘you despaired, and said by way of wishful thinking,’ {No Messenger will Allah send after him.} This was because of their disbelief and rejection (of the Messengers). {Thus Allah leaves astray him who is a transgressor and a skeptic.} means, this is the state of the one whom Allah sends astray because of his sinful actions and the doubts in his heart. {Those who dispute about the Ayat of Allah, without any authority that has come to them,} means, those who attempt to refute truth with falsehood and who dispute the proof without evidence or proof from Allah, Allah will hate them with the utmost loathing. Allah says: {it is greatly hateful and disgusting to Allah and to those who believe.} meaning, the believers too will despise those who are like this, and whoever is like this, Allah will put a seal on his heart so that after that he will not acknowledge anything good or denounce anything evil. Allah says: {Thus does Allah seal up the heart of every arrogant.} meaning, so that they cannot follow the truth. {tyrant.} {and the plot of Fir'awn led to nothing but loss and destruction.} Ibn ‘Abbas and Mujahid said, “Meaning nothing but ruin.”

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Page 473-477)

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.