قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً قَالُوا۟ يَـٰحَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ 31
Translations
Those will have lost who deny the meeting with Allāh, until when the Hour [of resurrection] comes upon them unexpectedly, they will say, "Oh, [how great is] our regret over what we neglected concerning it [i.e., the Hour]," while they bear their burdens [i.e., sins] on their backs. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.
Transliteration
Qad khasira alladhīna kadhdhābū biliqā'i Allāh, hattā idhā jā'at-hum al-sā'atu baghtatah, qālū yā hasratanā 'alā mā farrațnā fīhā wa-hum yaḥmilūna awzārahum 'alā ẓuhūrihim, alā sā'a mā yazirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that those who deny the meeting with Allah (the Day of Judgment) have suffered a tremendous loss. On the Day of Resurrection, when the Hour comes upon them suddenly, they will express deep regret for their negligence in worldly life, bearing their sins upon their backs with no one to help them carry this burden. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that their loss is both spiritual—denial of divine accountability—and eternal, as their regret will avail them nothing. The imagery of carrying sins on their backs symbolizes the weight and inescapability of their deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islamic revelation. It addresses the persistent denial of the Meccan disbelievers regarding resurrection and the afterlife, themes that are central throughout this surah. The context reflects the struggle between the Prophet's message of accountability and the disbelievers' rejection of divine judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing accountability for deeds. Additionally, 'Every soul shall taste death, and We test you with evil and with good as trials' (Qur'an 21:35) relates to the theme of divine judgment and accountability for one's actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should live with conscious awareness that they will meet Allah and be held accountable for their deeds, making this life a preparation for eternity rather than mere distraction. Procrastination in spiritual matters and negligence of obedience to Allah is a form of loss that cannot be recovered on the Day of Judgment.