هَـٰذَا هُدًى ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مِّن رِّجْزٍ أَلِيمٌ 11
Translations
This [Qur’ān] is guidance. And those who have disbelieved in the verses of their Lord will have a painful punishment of foul nature.
Transliteration
Hādhā hudān wa-alladhīna kafarū bi-āyāti rabbihim lahum 'adhābun min rijzin alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a stark contrast: the Quran is guidance for those who accept it, while those who reject the signs of their Lord face painful punishment described as 'rijz' (filth/corruption). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that rejection of divine signs is not mere disbelief but active rebellion, and the punishment reflects the severity of this transgression—'alīm' (painful/grievous) underscoring both physical and spiritual torment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Jathiyah, which addresses the polytheists of Mecca who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message despite clear proofs. The surah emphasizes divine wisdom in creation and judgment, and this particular verse reinforces the consequences of willful rejection of God's guidance during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and His signs, Allah will guide them' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The worst punishment on the Day of Resurrection will be for those who rejected the signs of Allah' (various chains in classical collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Quran itself is a complete guidance requiring sincere acceptance and implementation, while warning of the grave consequences of obstinate rejection of God's signs. For modern readers, it emphasizes that knowledge of truth carries responsibility—rejection is not merely an intellectual position but incurs spiritual consequences.
Related Ayahs
وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن رِّزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And [in] the alternation of night and day and [in] what Allāh sends down from the sky of provision [i.e., rain] and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and [in His] directing of the winds are signs for a people who reason.
إِنَّهُمْ لَن يُغْنُوا۟ عَنكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Indeed, they will never avail you against Allāh at all. And indeed, the wrongdoers are allies of one another; but Allāh is the protector of the righteous.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُدْخِلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
So as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them into His mercy. That is what is the clear attainment.
مِّن وَرَآئِهِمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مَّا كَسَبُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا مَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Before them is Hell, and what they had earned will not avail them at all nor what they had taken besides Allāh as allies. And they will have a great punishment.