Quran 2:15 - The Ultimate Boomerang: How Mocking Faith Ensnares the Mocker

Arabic Text and Translation

ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

Transliteration: Allāhu yastahzi'u bihim wa yamudduhum fī tughyānihim ya'mahūn
Easy Translation: "Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their rebellion, [blindly] wandering."

Easy Word-by-Word Meaning

This is Allah's direct and powerful response to the hypocrites who mock the believers. It reveals the divine law of how Allah deals with those who mock His faith.

ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ (Allāhu yastahzi'u bihim): "Allah mocks them..."
- This does not mean Allah jokes like humans. In the Quran, when Allah "mocks" someone, it means He will turn their own plan against them and make them the ultimate object of ridicule. Their mockery will backfire on them in a devastating way.
وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ (wa yamudduhum fī tughyānihim): "...and prolongs them in their rebellion..."
- "Yamudduhum" means He extends for them, He gives them more rope.
- "Tughyan" means their transgression, rebellion, and crossing all limits.
- Instead of punishing them immediately, Allah gives them more time, wealth, and opportunity to continue in their sin. This is a form of divine punishment called Istidraj—a gradual, unsuspecting luring into destruction.
يَعْمَهُونَ (ya'mahūn): "...[blindly] wandering."
- This means they are lost, confused, and blind to the truth. They think they are clever and on the right path, but they are actually wandering aimlessly in their misguidance, like a lost person in a desert.

Relevance in the Past, Present, and Future

1. Past Relevance: The Fate of the Plotters

For the early Muslims, this verse was a promise of divine justice.

It was a warning to the hypocrites like Abdullah ibn Ubayy that their plots were known and their "success" in causing trouble was not a sign of Allah's pleasure, but a prelude to their ultimate failure and humiliation.
It comforted the believers, assuring them that the mockery they endured would not go unanswered. Allah Himself would deal with the mockers in a way that would expose their foolishness for all to see.

2. Present Relevance: A Warning Against Istidraj

This verse is a crucial warning for our times, both for non-Muslims and Muslims.

The Trap of "Successful" Sin: When we see people who mock Islam, live in open sin, and yet seem to be successful, wealthy, and happy, we should not be deceived. This verse explains this phenomenon. This could be Istidraj—Allah is giving them everything in this world so they can pile up more punishment for themselves in the Hereafter.
A Self-Check for Believers: This is also a deep personal warning. If we find ourselves:
- Sinning without any feeling of guilt.
- Being given worldly blessings while we are neglectful of our prayers and duties to Allah.
  ...this is a dangerous sign. We must ask ourselves: Is this a blessing from Allah, or is it an Istidraj? We must quickly repent and return to Allah before it is too late.
The Illusion of Being "Right": Many people today mock religious people, calling them "backward." They feel proud of their "progressive" and "free" lifestyle. This verse says that this feeling of confidence is an illusion. They are, in fact, "blindly wandering" in their rebellion, completely lost without a moral compass.

3. Future Relevance: The Ultimate Backfire

The principle in this verse will be fully realized on the Day of Judgment.

The Final Mockery: On that Day, the hypocrites and mockers will see the believers entering Paradise. They will realize that the ones they called "fools" were the truly wise. At that moment, they will understand that they were the ones who were ultimately mocked. Their plan to deceive and mock will have completely backfired.
The Result of "Prolonging": The time and freedom they were given in this world to rebel will be the very evidence used against them. They will have no excuse.
A Call to Wake Up: This verse is a final alarm clock for humanity. It calls us to recognize the signs of Istidraj in our own lives and in society, and to rush back to the guidance of Allah before our hearts are sealed and we are left to wander blindly until a punishment seizes us by surprise.

Conclusion

Quran 2:15 reveals a profound and serious divine law.

It teaches us that:

Mocking Allah's religion is the gravest of follies. It guarantees a response from Allah where the mockery is turned back upon the mocker.
Worldly success for sinners is not a blessing to be envied; it can be a trap (Istidraj) that leads to a greater fall.
Allah's justice is perfect. He gives people every chance, but if they insist on rebellion, He lets them have their way, only to face the full consequences later.

This verse is a powerful call to sincerity, humility, and constant self-awareness, urging us to seek refuge in Allah from being among those who are left to wander blindly in their own transgression.