Surah Sajdah Ayat 18 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 18
Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal.
Is then the man who believes no better than the man who is rebellious and wicked? Not equal are they.
Would a true believer be like him who was an evil-doer? Surely they are not equal.
Is then he who is a believer like him who is Fasiq (disbeliever and disobedient to Allah)? Not equal are they.
Is he who is a believer like unto him who is an evil-liver? They are not alike.
So, is he who has been a believer like him who has been immoral? They are not equal.
So, is someone who believes equal to someone who defies God? No, they are not equal.
کیا وه جو مومن ہو مثل اس کے ہے جو فاسق ہو؟ یہ برابر نہیں ہو سکتے
Quran 32 Verse 18 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Sajdah ayat 18, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(32:18) Would a true believer be like him who was an evil-doer?[30] Surely they are not equal.[31]
30. Here mumin (believer) and fasiq (sinner) have been used as two contrasting terms. Mumin is he who believes in Allah as his Lord and the One and only deity and adopts obedience of the law which Allah has sent down through His Prophets. Contrary to this, fasiq is he who adopts the attitude of fisq (disobedience, rebellion, independence and obedience to others than Allah).
31. That is, “They can neither have the same way of thinking and life in the world nor can they be treated alike by God in the Hereafter.”
Ibn-Kathir
18. Is then he who is a believer like him who is rebellious Not equal are they. 19. As for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them are Gardens of Abode as an entertainment for what they used to do. 20. And as for those who rebel, their abode will be the Fire, every time they wish to get away therefrom, they will be put back thereto, and it will be said to them: “Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.” 21. And verily, We will make them taste of the near lighter torment prior to the greater torment, in order that they may return. 22. And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat of his Lord, then turns aside therefrom Verily, We shall exact retribution from the criminals.
Allah tells us that in His justice and generosity, on the Day of Judgement He will not judge those who believed in His signs and followed His Messengers, in the same way as He will judge those who rebelled, disobeyed Him and rejected the Messengers sent by Allah to them. This is like the Ayat:
(Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death Worst is the judgement that they make.) (45:21),
(Shall We treat those who believe and do righteous good deeds as corruptors on earth Or shall We treat those who have Taqwa as the wicked) (38:28)
(Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise…) (59:20). Allah says:
(Is then he who is a believer like him who is a rebellious Not equal are they. ) i.e., before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. `Ata’ bin Yasar, As-Suddi and others mentioned that this was revealed concerning `Ali bin Abi Talib and `Uqbah bin Abi Mu`it. Hence Allah has judged between them when He said:
(As for those who believe and do righteous good deeds,) meaning, their hearts believed in the signs of Allah, and they did as the signs of Allah dictate, i.e. righteous good deeds.
(for them are Gardens of Abode) i.e., in which there are dwellings and houses and lofty apartments.
(as an entertainment) means, something to welcome and honor a guest,
(for what they used to do. And as for those who rebel,) means, those who disobeyed Allah, their dwelling place will be the Fire, and every time they want to escape from it, they will be thrown back in, as Allah says:
(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein) (22:22). Al-Fudayl bin `Iyad said: “By Allah, their hands will be tied, their feet will be chained, the flames will lift them up and the angels will strike them.
(and it will be said to them: “Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.”)” means, this will be said to them by way of rebuke and chastisement.
(And verily, We will make them taste of the near lighter torment prior to the greater torment,) Ibn `Abbas said, “The near torment means diseases and problems in this world, and the things that happen to its people as a test from Allah to His servants so that they will repent to Him.” Something similar was also narrated from Ubayy bin Ka`b, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ad-Dahhak, `Alqamah, `Atiyah, Mujahid, Qatadah, `Abd Al-Karim Al-Jazari and Khusayf.
(And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat of his Lord, then turns aside therefrom) means, there is no one who does more wrong than the one whom Allah reminds of His signs and explains them to him clearly, then after that he neglects and ignores them, and turns away from them, forgetting them as if he does not know them. Qatadah said: “Beware of turning away from the remembrance of Allah, for whoever turns away from remembering Him will be the most misguided and the most in need, and the most guilty of sin.” Allah says, warning the one who does that:
(Verily, We shall exact retribution from the criminals.) meaning, `We shall avenge Ourselves on those who do that in the strongest possible terms.’
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