وَقَالَتْ أُولَىٰهُمْ لِأُخْرَىٰهُمْ فَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِن فَضْلٍ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ 39
Translations
And the first of them will say to the last of them, "Then you had not any favor over us, so taste the punishment for what you used to earn."
Transliteration
Wa qalat ūlāhum li-ūkhrayāhum famā kāna lakum 'alaynā min fadlin fa-dhūqū al-'adhāba bimā kuntum takisbūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts a scene from the Day of Judgment wherein the people of lower rank in Hellfire address those of higher rank, saying they have no superiority over them, and thus all should taste punishment for their deeds. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects the hierarchical levels of Hell where the damned turn on one another in despair, each group blaming the other. Al-Qurtubi notes that this exchange emphasizes the universal accountability before Allah—no one's status in the worldly life grants exemption from divine justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader Meccan narrative of Surah Al-A'raf that describes the Day of Judgment and the states of the inhabitants of Hell. It contextualizes the fate of those who rejected faith and committed sins, illustrating how no worldly advantage or social rank will benefit them in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each of you will be in the state his mother gave birth to him' (Sahih Muslim), emphasizing that deeds alone determine standing before Allah. Additionally, the hadith on the levels of Jannah and Jahannam in Sahih Bukhari illustrates differentiated ranks in the afterlife based on deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that worldly status, wealth, or relationships cannot protect us from divine accountability—we are judged solely by our actions and faith. It should inspire believers to prioritize righteous deeds and sincere belief over worldly pursuits and false pride.
Related Ayahs
عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
About what they used to do.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا۟ فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over, and they do not understand.
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].
وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَـٰتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ ۖ وَلِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And for all there are degrees [of reward and punishment] for what they have done, and [it is] so that He may fully compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.