Tafseer of Luqman · Luqman · 31:21
And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that upon which we found our fathers." Even if Satan was inviting them to the punishment of the Blaze?
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the saying of the Exalted: وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ (21) (And when it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has sent down," they say: "No, we follow that upon which we found our forefathers." Even though Satan was calling them to the punishment of the Blaze? (31:21))
The Exalted, whose praise is sublime, says: And when it is said to these who, out of ignorance concerning the greatness of Allah, dispute about the oneness of Allah: "Follow, O people, what Allah has sent down to His Messenger, and believe it, for it distinguishes between the truthful among us and the lying, and it separates between the misguided and the rightly guided," they say: "No, we follow the religions upon which we found our forefathers, for they were people of the truth." Allah, the Exalted, whose mention is sublime, said: أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ (Even though Satan was calling them) by beautifying their evil deeds for them, and their following of him in their misguidance, and their disbelief in Allah, and their failure to follow what Allah has sent down from His Book to His Prophet, إِلَى عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ (to the punishment of the Blaze), that is to say: the punishment of the Fire that blazes up and flames forth.
