ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَقَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـٰمًا وَرُفَـٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا 98
Translations
That is their recompense because they disbelieved in Our verses and said, "When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected [in] a new creation?"
Transliteration
Dhaalika jazaauhum bi-annahum kafaroo bi-aayaatina wa qaaloo a-idha kunna 'izaman wa rufaatan a-innaa lamab'oothoona khalqan jadeedan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the recompense of the disbelievers who rejected Allah's signs and denied the resurrection, mockingly asking whether they will be raised as a new creation after their bones have turned to dust. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as Allah's response to the polytheists' arrogance and their denial of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that their punishment is a direct consequence of their rejection of divine truth. The ayah affirms that resurrection is not only possible but certain, despite the seeming impossibility in human perception.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra (a Meccan surah), which addresses the disbelievers' doubts about fundamental Islamic beliefs. It responds specifically to the mockery and arguments of the Meccan polytheists who ridiculed the concept of resurrection, a central theme in Quranic discourse during the Meccan period when belief in the afterlife was heavily contested.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Kitab al-Tawhid) quotes the Prophet (peace be upon him) explaining Allah's ability to resurrect: 'The Mighty and Majestic One says, "The son of Adam denies me, and he has no right to do so. The Mighty and Majestic One says, "His recompense is only Hellfire, if he disbelieves in Me."' This connects to the ayah's theme of recompense for disbelief.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to remain steadfast in faith despite the mockery of disbelievers and their seemingly logical objections to resurrection; it reminds us that what appears impossible to human intellect is entirely within Allah's power, and that accountability for rejecting truth is inevitable.
Related Ayahs
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.
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.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدْعُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allāh while Allāh is Witness over what you do?"