إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ 161
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allāh and of the angels and the people, all together,
Transliteration
Inna alladhīna kafarū wa-mātu wa-hum kuffār ulā'ika 'alayhim la'nat allāhi wa-al-malā'ikati wa-al-nāsi ajma'īn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that those who die in a state of disbelief face the curse of Allah, the angels, and all humanity combined. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes the permanent spiritual separation of disbelievers from divine mercy, while Al-Qurtubi notes that the cumulative curse from divine, celestial, and human sources underscores the severity of rejecting truth. The verse serves as a solemn warning about the consequences of persisting in disbelief until death without repentance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Medinan period of Surah Al-Baqarah and is part of a broader section addressing the characteristics and ultimate fate of disbelievers. It follows verses discussing the nature of kufr (disbelief) and precedes descriptions of the afterlife, fitting within the surah's theme of distinguishing between believers and disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever dies while still associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Bukhari 4497). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who believe in me and treat people well' (Tirmidhi), implying the opposite fate for those who die in disbelief.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the critical importance of maintaining faith until death, as one's eternal fate is sealed at that moment with no opportunity for repentance thereafter. It should inspire both gratitude for the blessing of Islam and compassion for those still in disbelief, motivating sincere efforts to share the message of Allah's oneness.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ
And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا۟ مَعِىَ أَبَدًا وَلَن تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِٱلْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَـٰلِفِينَ
If Allāh should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],
وَأَصْبَحَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَمَنَّوْا۟ مَكَانَهُۥ بِٱلْأَمْسِ يَقُولُونَ وَيْكَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن مَّنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا لَخَسَفَ بِنَا ۖ وَيْكَأَنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And those who had wished for his position the previous day began to say, "Oh, how Allāh extends provision to whom He wills of His servants and restricts it! If not that Allāh had conferred favor on us, He would have caused it to swallow us. Oh, how the disbelievers do not succeed!"