وَجِا۟ىٓءَ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بِجَهَنَّمَ ۚ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ 23
Translations
And brought [within view], that Day, is Hell - that Day, man will remember, but how [i.e., what good] to him will be the remembrance?
Transliteration
Wa jaa'a yawma'idhin bi jahannam, yawma'idhin yatadakkarul insanu wa anna lahu adh-dhikra
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, Hell will be brought forth, and on that day the human will remember (his deeds and warnings), but remembrance will be of no benefit to him then. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah illustrates the tragedy of belated repentance—when the disbeliever finally comprehends the reality of the afterlife and wishes to recall the warnings he received in life, it will be too late, as the door of repentance has closed. The phrase 'wa anna lahu adh-dhikra' (but how will remembrance avail him?) expresses the futility and hopelessness of that moment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Fajr's broader Meccan context, which emphasizes the certainty of the Day of Judgment and divine accountability. The surah uses vivid imagery to warn the disbelievers about the consequences of rejecting faith and transgressing against the weak, building toward this powerful depiction of the helplessness felt when confronted with Hell on the Day of Resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most regretful person on the Day of Judgment will be he who saw the Fire and then saw the Paradise' (related in themes by Al-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quranic principle reflected here aligns with Surah 4:18 regarding the timing of repentance: 'Repentance is not for those who do evil deeds until death comes to one of them and he says, "Indeed, I have repented now."'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah urgently reminds believers that repentance and remembrance of God's warnings must occur in this life, not in the Hereafter when it becomes meaningless. It serves as a profound call to heed divine guidance now, while the opportunity for redemption remains available, rather than waiting until one stands before Hell itself.