Surah Al-Hajj Ayat 8 (22:8 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(22:8) And among people are those that wrangle^[10] about Allah without knowledge,^[11] without any true guidance,^[12] and without any scripture to enlighten them.^[13]

10. That is, they are so proud, arrogant, obdurate and obstinate that they do not pay any heed to admonition.

11. Knowledge: That personal information which is gained directly through observation and experience.

12. Guidance: That information which is gained by reasoning or through another person who has knowledge.

13. Book with light: Source of information gained from divine revelation.

Ibn-Kathir

8. And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah). 9. Bending his neck in pride, and leading (others) too (far) astray from the path of Allah. For him there is disgrace in this worldly life, and on the Day of Resurrection We shall make him taste the torment of burning. 10. That is because of what your hands have sent forth, and verily, Allah is not unjust to servants.

Allah has already told us about the ignorant imitators who are led astray:

(And among mankind is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge, and follows every rebellious Shaytan.) And here He tells us about those who call others to misguidance, the leaders of disbelief and innovation:

(And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah).) meaning, with no correct rational thought, and no clear transmitted text; what they say is based only on their opinions and whims. Allah’s saying,

(Bending his neck in pride,) Ibn `Abbas and others said, “Too proud to follow the truth when he is called to it.” Mujahid, Qatadah and Malik said, narrating from Zayd bin Aslam:

(Bending his neck in pride,) means, twisting his neck, i.e., turning away from the truth to which he is called, bending his neck out of pride and arrogance. This is like the Ayat:

(And in Musa, when We sent him to Fir`awn with a manifest authority. But (Fir`awn) turned away along with his hosts) ﴿51:38-39﴾,

(And when it is said to them: “Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger,” you see the hypocrites turn away from you with aversion.) ﴿4:61﴾,

(And when it is said to them: “Come, so that the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness from Allah for you,” they twist their heads, and you would see them turning away their faces in pride.) ﴿63:5﴾, And Luqman said to his son:

(And turn not your face away from men with pride) ﴿31:18﴾ meaning, do not turn away from them in an arrogant manner. And Allah says:

(And when Our verses are recited to him, he turns away in pride) ﴿31:7﴾.

(and leading (others) too (far) astray from the path of Allah.) This either refers to those who are stubborn, or it means that the person who does this has been created like this so that he will be one of those who lead others astray from the path of Allah. Then Allah says:

(For him there is disgrace in this worldly life,) meaning, humiliation and shame, such as when he is too arrogant to heed the signs of Allah, so Allah will send humiliation upon him in this world and will punish him in this world, before he reaches the Hereafter, because this world is all he cares about and all he knows.

(and on the Day of Resurrection We shall make him taste the torment of burning. That is because of what your hands have sent forth,) means, this will be said to him by way of rebuke.

(and verily, Allah is not unjust to the servants.) This is like the Ayah:

((It will be said: ) “Seize him and drag him into the midst of blazing Fire, Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water. Taste you (this)! Verily, you were (pretending to be) the mighty, the generous! Verily, this is that whereof you used to doubt!”) ﴿44:47-50﴾