What does Quran 67:22 mean?

Quran 67:22 (Surah Al-Mulk, Ayah 22) translates to: "Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?"

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 67:22 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty), the 67th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 29.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 67:22?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih al-Bukhari, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sahih Muslim.

What tafsir is available for Quran 67:22?

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

What topics does Quran 67:22 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Guidance, Straight Path, Accountability, Tawhid, Divine Sovereignty.

Ayah 21

أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ ...

67:22Al-Mulk

Ayah 23

قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلس...

أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ

Afamai yamshee mukibban 'alaa wajhihee ahdaaa ammany yamshee sawiyyan 'alaa siratim mustaqeem

Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?

Themes in this ayah

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Knowledge & reflection56

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Knowledge & reflection

67:22Ayah 130

4 ayahs in Al-Mulk are strongly about knowledge and reflection.

← Previous on Knowledge & reflection67:10And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."Next on Knowledge & reflection →67:30Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 67:22→

Is he who walks cast down fallen on his face more rightly guided or he who walks upright on a straight path? the predicate of the second man ‘who’ has been omitted but is indicated by the predicate of the first namely ahdā ‘more rightly guided’; the similitude refers to the believer and the disbeliever and to which of the two is more rightly guided.

A man said, "O Allah's Prophet! Will a Kafir (disbeliever) be gathered (driven prone) on his face?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Is not He Who made him walk with his legs in this world, able to make him walk on his face on the Day of Resurrection?" (Qatada, a sub-narrator said: Yes, (He can), by the Power of Our Lord!")

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3226Narrated Abu Hurairah:Da'if

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "People will be gathered in three classes on the Day of Resurrection: A class walking, a class riding, and a class upon their faces." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! How will they walk upon their faces?" He said: "Indeed the One Who made them walk upon their feet, is able to make them walk upon their faces. Verily they will try to protect their faces from every bump and thorn."

Sahih Muslim #7068Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

There will be soon a period of turmoil in which the one who sits will be better than one who stands and the one who stands will be better than one who walks and the one who walks will be better than one who runs. He who would watch them will be drawn by them. So he who finds a refuge or shelter against it should make it as his resort.

Sahih Muslim #5328Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

There was a person who walked with pride because of his (fine) mantles and well pleased with his personality. Allah made him sink in the earth and he would go on sinking in that until the Day of Resurrection.

Sahih al-Bukhari #5563Narrated Abu Huraira:Sahih

The Prophet (or 'Abul Qasim) said, "While a man was walking, clad in a two-piece garment and proud of himself with his hair well-combed, suddenly Allah made him sink into the earth and he will go on sinking into it till the Day of Resurrection.