وَٱقْتَرَبَ ٱلْوَعْدُ ٱلْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِىَ شَـٰخِصَةٌ أَبْصَـٰرُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ 97
Translations
And [when] the true promise [i.e., the resurrection] has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring [in horror, while they say], "O woe to us; we had been unmindful of this; rather, we were wrongdoers."
Transliteration
Wa iqtaraba al-waʿdu al-ḥaqqu fa-idhā hiya shākhiṣatun abṣāru alladhīna kafarū yā waylana qad kunnā fī ghaflatim min hādhā bal kunnā ẓālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the true promise of Allah draws near, and the disbelievers' eyes will stare in horror and regret. Ibn Kathir explains that 'shākhiṣah' (staring) refers to eyes that remain fixed and dilated in terror and despair. The disbelievers then lament their heedlessness and denial during their worldly life, acknowledging they were not merely forgetful but active wrongdoers who deliberately rejected the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan surah that discusses the resurrection and judgment. It follows the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn and Yajuj wa Majuj (Gog and Magog) and serves as a vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment, illustrating the terror and remorse of the disbelievers when faced with the reality they denied.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers' eyes will be fixed in terror when they see the punishment.' Also relevant is the hadith about people wishing to return to the world to rectify their deeds (Surah Al-Muminun 99-100), emphasizing this theme of regret.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that indifference to divine guidance is not mere forgetfulness but a form of injustice to oneself. Believers should use this as motivation to remain vigilant and conscious of Allah's signs rather than living in heedlessness, as awareness now prevents the eternal regret depicted on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
لَا يَحْزُنُهُمُ ٱلْفَزَعُ ٱلْأَكْبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ هَـٰذَا يَوْمُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
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" -
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ
So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَـٰهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and then We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?
قَالُوا۟ فَأْتُوا۟ بِهِۦ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِ ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ
They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."