وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالًا يَعْرِفُونَهُم بِسِيمَىٰهُمْ قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ 48
Translations
And the companions of the Elevations will call to men [within Hell] whom they recognize by their mark, saying, "Of no avail to you was your gathering and [the fact] that you were arrogant."
Transliteration
Wa nadā aṣḥābu al-a'rāfi rijālan ya'rifūnahum bi-sīmāhum qālū mā aghnā 'ankum jam'ukum wa mā kuntum tastakbirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The inhabitants of al-A'raf (the wall/heights between Paradise and Hell) call out to the people of Hell whom they recognize by their distinguishing features, saying: 'Your gathering (of wealth, power, and numbers) and your arrogance have not availed you anything.' This represents a moment of bitter realization for the arrogant disbelievers, as those on the wall mock their former worldly pride and collective power, which proved utterly useless in the face of divine judgment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this demonstrates how all worldly advantages and collective strength become meaningless in the afterlife without faith and righteousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan Surah Al-A'raf's depiction of the Day of Judgment and the states of different groups in the afterlife. It comes within the broader narrative (7:44-53) describing the interactions between the inhabitants of al-A'raf and the people of Hell, illustrating the consequences of arrogance and disbelief. The context reflects Quranic warnings to the arrogant Meccan polytheists who relied on their wealth, numbers, and tribal power.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Muslim contains numerous hadiths where the Prophet ﷺ warns about the futility of worldly wealth and power on the Day of Judgment. For example, the hadith about the poorest man in Paradise and richest man in Hell illustrates the same principle that material advantages hold no value without faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that worldly gatherings, wealth, numbers, and arrogance are entirely worthless before Allah on the Day of Judgment—only faith, righteousness, and humble submission to Allah hold true value. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to not place false confidence in material possessions, social status, or collective power, and instead to cultivate sincere faith and humility.
Related Ayahs
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ
And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."
إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا
When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake
وَقَالُوا۟ مَا لَنَا لَا نَرَىٰ رِجَالًا كُنَّا نَعُدُّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَشْرَارِ
And they will say, "Why do we not see men whom we used to count among the worst?