Surah Ta-Ha 20:16
سُورَةُ طه · Meccan · Verse 16 of 135
فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ
Translation
Do not let anyone who does not believe in it and follows his own desires distract you from it, and so bring you to ruin.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Maani AI approaches this sacred verse with humility and reverence, seeking to uncover its profound wisdom for our hearts today.
The Divine Command
In Surah Taha, Allah is speaking directly to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) at the sacred valley. After instructing him about His Oneness, the importance of prayer, and the certainty of the Hour (Day of Judgment), Allah issues a stern warning in verse 16: "So do not let turn you away from it whoever does not believe in it and followed his desires, lest you perish." This address to Musa, a Prophet of Allah, carries universal lessons for all who strive to be firm in their faith.
The Power of "Do Not Let Turn You"
The wording of "فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ" (fasla yasuddannaka) is remarkably precise. It does not simply say, "Do not turn away from it." Instead, it is an emphatic prohibition, reinforced by the strengthening particle "نَّكَ" (nunnation of emphasis), against *allowing* others to turn you away. As scholars like al-Zamakhshari, al-Razi, and Ibn Ashur point out, this is a rhetorical flourish that intensifies the warning. It implies that Musa (and by extension, any believer) must be so resolute and firm in their conviction that they do not even offer the slightest opening for disbelievers to sway them. It's a call to inner strength and unwavering steadfastness, to maintain a spiritual fortitude that makes it impossible for the enticements or doubts of others to take root.
The pronoun "عَنْهَا" (anha), "from it," refers to the Hour (the Day of Judgment) which was just mentioned in the preceding verse. The immediate context of divine recompense "لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ" (so that every soul may be recompensed for what it strives) strongly anchors this meaning.
The Root of Disbelief
The verse then identifies those who might attempt to sway Musa: "مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ" (man la yu'minu biha wa-ttaba'a hawahu), meaning "whoever does not believe in it and followed his desires." This is a crucial insight into the nature of disbelief. Scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Razi explain that this phrase reveals the *reason* for their denial of the Hour. It is not based on evidence, logic, or divine revelation, but purely on "هَوَىٰهُ" (hawahu) – their personal desires, whims, and inclinations. This highlights a fundamental contrast: true belief is rooted in divine guidance and sound reasoning, while rejection often stems from self-indulgence and a desire to avoid accountability. It serves as a strong caution against blindly following others whose principles are guided by personal whim rather than truth.
The Dire Consequence
The verse concludes with a powerful consequence: "فَتَرْدَىٰ" (fatar-da), meaning "lest you perish" or "you will fall into ruin." The connecting particle "فَ" (fa) clearly indicates a direct causal relationship: if you allow yourself to be swayed, *then* this ruin will be your outcome. Al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur clarify that this perishing signifies falling into the worst state, a spiritual and ultimate destruction. It underscores the immense gravity of the warning: to allow the doubts of the heedless to penetrate one's conviction in the Day of Judgment is to invite ultimate loss.
This verse, through its precise and powerful wording, therefore calls every believer to cultivate an unshakeable inner conviction in the Hour, to discern the self-serving motives behind disbelief, and to guard against any influence that might weaken their resolve, thereby safeguarding themselves from ruin.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Worldly Mirror
The Divine Warning to Remain Steadfast
This profound verse, Surah Taha (20:16), begins with a direct and protective address from Allah to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). Having just been told about the inevitability of the Day of Judgment (the Hour) and the purpose of its hidden timing – to hold every soul accountable – Musa is immediately given a crucial warning. Allah cautions him, "فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ" (So do not let them avert you from it, those who do not believe in it and follow their desires, lest you perish).
Guarding Your Inner Conviction
At its core, this verse acts as a powerful mirror for our inner selves. It warns against allowing external influences to erode our most fundamental convictions. The phrase "مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ" (those who do not believe in it and follow their desires) points to individuals whose disbelief in the Day of Judgment is often rooted in their pursuit of *hawa*, meaning their base desires or whims. Sayyid Qutb notes that such people deny the Day of Judgment because it clashes with their desire for unchecked indulgence.
For us, the reflection is personal: how easily can we be swayed by the pervasive mindset around us that dismisses accountability or prioritizes immediate gratification over eternal consequences? This verse calls for deep self-awareness, urging us to recognize when our own resolve might waver due to the apathy or denial of others. Tazkirul Quran emphasizes the need for a believer to be "strictly vigilant about himself" in such situations, lest they lose their "Akhirah-loving life."
The Ripple of Influence
Beyond the individual, this verse shines a light on our relationships and the broader society. While addressed to Musa, scholars like al-Munir explain that this instruction extends to all mature believers. It's a reminder that our faith journey is rarely in isolation. We will encounter people who openly or subtly reject core tenets of faith, particularly the idea of divine accountability. Their actions, often driven by *hawa* and a focus on fleeting worldly pleasures, can create a powerful current that seeks to pull us away from our path.
This isn't an instruction to isolate ourselves, but to cultivate a discerning heart. It’s about safeguarding our commitment to preparing for the Hereafter amidst societal trends that encourage distraction and forgetfulness of our ultimate purpose. The warning "فَتَرْدَىٰ" (lest you perish) serves as a stark reminder of the spiritual ruin that can result from allowing such influences to divert us. It underscores the urgency of actively holding onto our beliefs, reinforcing them through worship and remembrance, and ensuring that our actions align with our conviction in the Hour.
Sources: Israr Ahmad (Bayan ul Quran), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Tazkirul Quran, Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ta-Ha 20:16 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ta-Ha 20:16 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.