وَكَذَّبُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ
“And they denied and followed their lowly desires. And every command/decision or issue is going to be settled”.
“And they denied or called a lie.” The statement is left open without specifying what is denied, thus encompassing:
أَهْوَاءَ is the plural of هَوًى (Hawa): whims, desires, inner inclinations to what is desired.
Etymology and related forms:
Semantic insight: love overpowering the heart; “to fall for something low.” When one loves a lowly goal, one is a victim of هَوًى.
Refers to that which sticks, remains fixed, and settles into place (like at the bottom).
After denial and following desires, they are told: the reality will not change. Every matter finds its place — a final resting point and appointed outcome.
Whether good or evil, truth or falsehood — each reaches its determined conclusion.
Open-ended rejection: of signs, the Prophet ﷺ, and truth — even against their own senses and reason.
A descent into whims: an inner fall in love with what is low and empty.
An appointed conclusion for every matter: the outcome is determined and will be reached.
Matters settle upon the Sunnah of truth being affirmed and falsehood being vanquished.
This is a threat to the deniers and a comfort to the Prophet ﷺ — their denial does not alter the final outcome.
In response to سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ (“a magic that will pass by”): it is not transient; it is a matter that will settle and remain.
The present hardship of the Muslims and the apparent upper hand of Quraysh are for an appointed time — the affair will be settled as per Allah’s plan.