لِّيَسْـَٔلَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ عَن صِدْقِهِمْ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا 8
Translations
That He may question the truthful about their truth. And He has prepared for the disbelievers a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Liyasalassadiqīna ʿan sidqihim, waʾaʿadda lilkāfirīna ʿadhāban alīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Allah will question the truthful ones about their truthfulness on the Day of Judgment, examining the sincerity of their faith and deeds. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'Sadiqīn' (truthful ones) refers to those who truly fulfill their covenants with Allah and maintain consistency between their words and actions. In contrast, the ayah warns that disbelievers await a painful punishment, emphasizing the stark contrast between the accountability of the righteous and the fate of those who reject faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ahzab (revealed in Madinah), which addresses various social, military, and spiritual matters of the Muslim community. The broader context of verses 8-11 discusses the covenant Allah made with the prophets and believers, setting the framework for accountability before Him. The mention of questioning the truthful reflects the comprehensive nature of divine justice on the Day of Resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). This relates to the emphasis on truthfulness and fulfilling covenants. Additionally, 'Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 6094) directly supports the virtue emphasized in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah will scrutinize not merely external actions but the authenticity of our faith and adherence to our promises with Him. Let this inspire us to cultivate genuine truthfulness in both word and deed, and to maintain consistency between our inner convictions and outward behavior in all circumstances.