وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالًا مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ ۖ وَلَيُسْـَٔلُنَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ 13
Translations
But they will surely carry their [own] burdens and [other] burdens along with their burdens, and they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about what they used to invent.
Transliteration
Wa-layahmilunna athqalahum wa-athqalan ma'a athqalihim wa-layus'alunna yawma al-qiyamati 'amma kanu yaftarун
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how those who reject faith will bear the burden of their own sins, and additionally the burden of leading others astray through their false teachings and fabrications. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this to mean that disbelievers will carry their own punishment on the Day of Judgment, plus the sins of those they misled. Al-Tabari emphasizes that they will be questioned about the false claims (افتراءات - iftiraat) they invented against Allah and His religion.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-'Ankabut (a Meccan chapter), which addresses the trials and temptations faced by believers in Mecca. The broader context discusses the consequences of disbelief and the deception of those who reject the message, emphasizing Divine accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever invents a lie against me intentionally, let him prepare his seat in the Hellfire' (Sahih Bukhari 1291). Also related: 'The sin of the one who leads others astray is equivalent to the sins of all those he misleads' (Sunan Ibn Majah 203).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that we bear responsibility not only for our own actions but also for those we influence—making it crucial to be truthful and careful about spreading religious knowledge. It serves as a powerful reminder that integrity in matters of faith has eternal consequences, both for ourselves and for those around us.
Related Ayahs
أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ ٱلسَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ ٱلْمُنكَرَ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
Indeed, you approach men and obstruct the road and commit in your meetings [every] evil." And the answer of his people was not but that they said, "Bring us the punishment of Allāh, if you should be of the truthful."
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?
وَقَـٰرُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مُّوسَىٰ بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ سَـٰبِقِينَ
And [We destroyed] Qārūn and Pharaoh and Hāmān. And Moses had already come to them with clear evidences, and they were arrogant in the land, but they were not outrunners [of Our punishment].
قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا ۚ قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
[Abraham] said, "Indeed, within it is Lot." They said, "We are more knowing of who is within it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife. She is to be of those who remain behind."