Surah Sad 38:2
سُورَةُ صٓ · Meccan · Verse 2 of 88
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى عِزَّةٍۢ وَشِقَاقٍۢ
Translation
Yet the disbelievers are steeped in arrogance and hostility.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Worldly Mirror
This powerful verse, Surah Sad (38), Ayah 2, directly addresses the state of those who reject faith, drawing a sharp contrast to the truth of the Quran mentioned in the preceding verse. Allah tells us, "بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى عِزَّةٍۢ وَشِقَاقٍۢ" (But those who disbelieve are in pride and defiance). Here, Allah Himself is speaking, revealing the inner condition of the disbelievers in Makkah who opposed the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his message. The tone is one of revelation and firm declaration.
The Core Meaning
The ayah diagnoses the underlying reasons for their rejection of the truth. It's not a matter of lacking evidence, but an internal state. The term "عِزَّةٍۢ" (ʻIzzah) refers to a deep-seated pride, arrogance, and haughtiness, especially a refusal to submit to what is right. It is a false sense of superiority that prevents one from accepting guidance. Coupled with this is "شِقَاقٍۢ" (Shiqaaq), meaning defiance, hostility, or enmity. It suggests a splitting off, a deliberate opposition and antagonism towards Allah and His Messenger. Sayyid Qutb notes that this is a "severe stubbornness and enmity."
Roots of Rejection
Looking through the worldly mirror, this verse points to profound inner and social dynamics. Tazkirul Quran explains that the disbelievers' rejection wasn't rational but psychological. Their refusal to believe stemmed from not wanting their "greatness" or status to diminish if they accepted the new message. This 'Izzah, this pride, meant they felt too important to follow a prophet from amongst themselves or to abandon their ancestors' ways. Wahba al-Zuhayli emphasizes their "arrogance, haughtiness, and superiority over following truth." They did not want to lose power or prestige.
This inner pride then manifests outwardly as Shiqaaq, active defiance and hostility. Ibn al-Jawzi recounts how the Quraish leaders explicitly refused "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah) because the idea of a single God was "strange" to them. They felt the Prophet was trying to assert dominance over them. This collective resistance created a social and political front against the message of Islam.
A Mirror for Us
While the verse directly addresses the historical disbelievers, it holds a powerful reflection for anyone today. It reveals a universal human weakness: the tendency to let pride and defiance block us from truth, guidance, or even self-correction. Have we ever clung to an idea or a way of life, not because it was inherently right, but because our ego prevented us from admitting we might be wrong? Have we observed groups or leaders whose policies are driven by an 'Izzah that causes Shiqaaq, alienating others and resisting positive change? This verse reminds us that true humility is a prerequisite for receiving guidance and that arrogance, whether individual or collective, leads to obstinacy and ultimately, to a state of being cut off from truth. It encourages us to diagnose our own hearts for traces of such pride and defiance, which can prevent us from growing closer to Allah and from living harmoniously with others.
Sources: Israr Ahmad (Bayan ul Quran), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Tazkirul Quran, al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Sad 38:2 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Sad 38:2 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.