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.