قَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَّعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱدَّارَكُوا۟ فِيهَا جَمِيعًا قَالَتْ أُخْرَىٰهُمْ لِأُولَىٰهُمْ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَـَٔاتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ 38
Translations
[Allāh] will say, "Enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire." Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, "Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire." He will say, "For each is double, but you do not know."
Transliteration
Qala udkhulu fi umamin qad khalat min qablikum mina al-jinni wa-al-insi fi al-nari kullama dakhалat ummatan la'anat ukhtaha hatta idha iddaraku fiha jami'an qalat ukhrахum li-awwalhum rabbana haula'i adalluna fa-ati-him adhaba di'fan mina al-nari qala li-kulli di'fn wa-lakil la ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the scene of the damned entering Hell, where successive generations curse those who preceded them, believing they were led astray. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the latecomers blame the earlier generations for their misguidance, yet Allah replies that each group receives double punishment—not in addition to the other's, but a complete punishment for each—emphasizing that no one can blame another for their own rejection of truth. The ayah illustrates the bitter regret and mutual recrimination that characterizes the punishment of Hell, where those who followed falsehood turn against their leaders.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan chapter that extensively discusses past nations and their rejection of prophets. It appears within the broader narrative (7:36-41) describing the fate of those who deny Allah's signs and mock the believers. The context emphasizes that each generation had clear signs and warnings, yet chose disbelief, making their punishment just and inevitable.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Every soul shall taste death, and We shall make a trial for you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned.' (Quran 21:35) This relates to the testing of nations mentioned in 7:38. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Day of Judgment describes similar scenes of mutual blame among the damned.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that on the Day of Judgment, no one can shift their responsibility for disbelief onto others—each soul is accountable for its own choices and rejection of truth. For believers, it serves as a powerful warning against following others blindly into sin and a call to take personal responsibility for guidance and faith.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لَهْوًا وَلَعِبًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ فَٱلْيَوْمَ نَنسَىٰهُمْ كَمَا نَسُوا۟ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِهِمْ هَـٰذَا وَمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
Who took their religion as distraction and amusement and whom the worldly life deluded." So today We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our verses.
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلْإِثْمَ وَٱلْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allāh that which you do not know."
أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا۟ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allāh so you might receive mercy?"
قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,