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
فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So We brought out whoever was in them [i.e., the cities] of the believers.
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْدَى ٱلْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦٓ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ
Say, "Do you await for us except one of the two best things [i.e., martyrdom or victory] while we await for you that Allāh will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting."
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِقَآئِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَئِسُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَتِى وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And the ones who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and the meeting with Him - those have despaired of My mercy, and they will have a painful punishment.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ نُوحٍ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا
And how many have We destroyed from the generations after Noah. And sufficient is your Lord, concerning the sins of His servants, as Aware and Seeing.