What does Quran 23:34 mean?

Quran 23:34 (Surah Al-Muminoon, Ayah 34) translates to: "And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 23:34 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Muminoon (The Believers), the 23th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 18.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 23:34?

Yes — there are 3 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih Muslim, Sunan Ibn Majah.

What tafsir is available for Quran 23:34?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 23:34 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Disbelief, Hereafter, Divine Messengers, Prophethood, Historical Nations.

Ayah 33

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟...

23:34Al-Muminoon

Ayah 35

أَيَعِدُكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ إِذَا مِتُّمْ وَكُنتُمْ تُر...

وَلَئِنْ أَطَعْتُم بَشَرًۭا مِّثْلَكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًۭا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ

Wa la'in at'atum basharam mislakum innakum izal lakhaasiroon

And if you should obey a man like yourselves, indeed, you would then be losers.

Themes in this ayah

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True success & loss97

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True success & loss

23:34Ayah 1118

6 ayahs in Al-Muminoon are strongly about true success. This is one of them.

← Previous on True success & loss23:1Certainly will the believers have succeeded:Next on True success & loss →23:102And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful.

Tafsir

Scholars offer diverse perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 23:34→

And by God if you obey a human being like yourselves this clause contains both an oath and a conditional; the response belongs to the former the oath which at the same time suffices in place of a response for the latter the conditional you will surely then that is should you obey them be losers you will have been duped.

If a slave is appointed over you and he conducts your affairs according to the Book of Allah, you should listen to him and obeey (his orders).

Sunan Ibn Majah #2597It was narrated from Umm Husain that she heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:Sahih

“Even if the one appointed over you is a mutilated Ethiopian slave whose nose and ears have been cut off, listen to him and obey, so long as he leads you according to the Book of Allah.”

Sunan Ibn Majah #2596It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Sahih

“Listen and obey, even if the one appointed over you is an Ethiopian slave with a head like a raisin.”