۞ أَفَلَا يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِى ٱلْقُبُورِ 9
Translations
But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered
Transliteration
Afala ya'lamu idha bu'thira ma fil qubur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to those who deny the resurrection, asking if they do not know that on the Day of Judgment, the contents of the graves—the dead bodies—will be scattered and raised. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as a powerful reminder of Allah's omniscience and the inevitability of the resurrection, challenging the disbelievers' denial of the afterlife by appealing to their reason and the signs of Allah's power.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-'Adiyat is a Meccan surah that addresses the Quraysh's denial of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. This ayah comes near the conclusion of the surah and directly confronts the disbelievers with the reality of life after death, serving as a warning and call to reflection about their ultimate destiny.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The Day of Resurrection will not be established until the sun rises from the west.' (Sahih Bukhari 3194). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Every soul shall taste death, and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your wages in full.' (Quran 3:185, with related hadiths in Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to contemplate the reality of death and resurrection, moving from heedlessness to mindfulness of Allah's power and justice. It serves as a spiritual wake-up call to prioritize eternal matters over worldly distractions and to prepare for accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ
I swear by the Day of Resurrection
قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ
Say, "He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing."
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْىَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْـِۧىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
أَمْوَٰتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
They are [in fact] dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.