لَا يَحْزُنُهُمُ ٱلْفَزَعُ ٱلْأَكْبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ هَـٰذَا يَوْمُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ 103
Translations
They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will meet them, [saying], "This is your Day which you have been promised" -
Transliteration
La yahzunuhum al-fazau al-akbar wa tatalaqqa-hum al-mala-ikatu hadha yawmukum allathi kuntum tuu'adun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the state of the righteous on the Day of Judgment, assuring them that the greatest terror (al-fazau al-akbar) will not grieve them, and instead the angels will welcome them with the glad tidings that this is the Day they were promised. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, al-fazau al-akbar refers to the overwhelming fear and distress that will afflict the disbelievers on that Day, from which the believers are protected by Allah's mercy and their righteous deeds. The angels' greeting represents divine recognition and honor for those who remained faithful.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Anbiya, which emphasizes the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the accountability of all souls. It comes within a passage reassuring believers about their status in the Hereafter, contrasting the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked, serving as motivation for steadfastness during the trials of early Meccan preaching.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'On the Day of Resurrection, the sun will be brought close to the people...' (Sahih Bukhari 3257), which describes the terror of that Day. Also relevant: 'Indeed, the angels descend upon you in successive layers...' (Sahih Muslim 1367), describing angelic presence and support for believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah offers profound comfort to believers facing worldly trials: their patience and faith will be vindicated when they are spared the terror that befalls others, and they will receive honor from the angels themselves. It reminds us that living righteously in this life directly determines our peace and dignity in the afterlife.