Surah Al-An'am Verse 123 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And thus We have placed within every city the greatest…

Al-An'am · 123/165

Translation Transliteration — Al-An'am

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَابِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُوا فِيهَا ۖ وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ۝١٢٣

🔤 Transliteration

Wa kazaalika ja`alnaa fee kulli qaryatin akaabira mujrimeehaa liyamkuroo feehaa wa maa yamkuroona illaa bi anfusihim wa maa yash`uroon

📖 Translation (English Meaning)

📖 English Meaning

And thus We have placed within every city the greatest of its criminals to conspire therein. But they conspire not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not.

🌐 Additional reference in Français

📜

Translation — Tafsir

Word Meanings:

Akabir (أَكَابِرَ): The leaders, chiefs, and prominent figures of a community.
Mujrimiha (مُجْرِمِيهَا): Its criminals — those who persist in sin and wrongdoing.
Li-yamkuru (لِيَمْكُرُوا): To plot, scheme, or devise cunning plans.
Yash'urun (يَشْعُرُونَ): They perceive, sense, or realize.

Explanation of the Verse:

Just as the elite criminals of Makkah — its powerful and influential polytheists — stood as obstacles to the truth, rejecting the Prophet ﷺ and plotting against his mission, Allah informs us that this has been the pattern throughout history. In every town and city, He has allowed the prominent wrongdoers to hold positions of influence, and they use that influence to scheme against the messengers of Allah and their followers. They spread doubt, fabricate accusations, and wage war against the call to monotheism and righteousness.

Yet — and here lies the profound irony — their plots never harm anyone but themselves. Every scheme they weave, every lie they spread, every barrier they erect against the truth, ultimately recoils upon them. Their punishment is sealed, their hearts are hardened, and their end is destruction — yet they remain utterly unaware of this reality. They think they are being clever, but in truth, they are digging their own graves.

This verse carries a timeless lesson: the enemies of truth, no matter how powerful or resourceful they appear, are ultimately fighting a losing battle. Their cunning is turned back upon them, and their schemes become the very means of their own ruin — while they remain blinded to it by their arrogance and desires.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, ponder this divine wisdom: the very people who seem to hold the reins of power in opposing the truth are, in reality, the most deceived. Their plots do not touch Allah's plan in the slightest; rather, they only hasten their own downfall. So do not be intimidated by the apparent strength of those who oppose faith. Their schemes are contained within their own souls, and their end is already written.

And for the believer, there is immense comfort here: you are not alone, and your enemies are not as strong as they appear. Allah watches over His religion, and He has placed the outcome of every plot in the hands of His justice. Hold firm to your faith, trust in Allah's wisdom, and know that every evil scheme returns to its author — whether they realize it or not. The truth will always prevail, and the plotters will always be the losers, in this life and the next.

🎧 Listen

📜 Verse 121-125 — Al-An'am

121وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ

And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience. And indeed do the devils inspire their allies [among men] to dispute with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be associators [of others with Him].

122أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing.

123وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَابِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُوا فِيهَا ۖ وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

And thus We have placed within every city the greatest of its criminals to conspire therein. But they conspire not except against themselves, and they perceive [it] not.

124وَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ آيَةٌ قَالُوا لَن نُّؤْمِنَ حَتَّىٰ نُؤْتَىٰ مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللَّهِ ۘ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ ۗ سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا صَغَارٌ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَمْكُرُونَ

And when a sign comes to them, they say, "Never will we believe until we are given like that which was given to the messengers of Allah." Allah is most knowing of where He places His message. There will afflict those who committed crimes debasement before Allah and severe punishment for what they used to conspire.

125فَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ ۖ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاءِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

So whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe.

← Verse 122 📖 Al-An'am Verse 124 →

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Translation — Al-An'am 123

Surah Al-An'am Verse 123 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And thus We have placed within every city the greatest…

Surah Verse 123/165 — Al-An'am الأنعام (Meccan). Read Listen Translation (English). Listen: Al-An'am Listen, Al-An'am Translation, Al-An'am mp3, Al-An'am pdf. Verse 121–125. English Meaning: Français.

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