وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَفَلَمْ تَكُنْ ءَايَـٰتِى تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ 31
Translations
But as for those who disbelieved, [it will be said], "Were not Our verses recited to you, but you were arrogant and became a criminal people?
Transliteration
Wa-amma alladhina kafaroo afalam takun ayatee tutla alaykum fastakbartum wa kuntum qawman mujrimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, rebuking them for their rejection despite receiving clear signs (the Qur'an). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that their arrogance (istikbar) and criminal behavior (ijram) prevented them from accepting the truth, despite having full awareness of Allah's signs. The ayah highlights that rejection of divine guidance stems not from lack of knowledge but from deliberate arrogance and moral corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the final scene of Surah Al-Jathiyah, which depicts the Day of Judgment and Allah's address to believers and disbelievers regarding their deeds. The broader context of the surah emphasizes signs in creation and the consequences of rejecting them. The specific context here is Allah's direct address to the disbelievers in the afterlife, making their inexcusable state clear.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most despicable person in Allah's sight is the obstinate disbeliever' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim states that on the Day of Judgment, the Qur'an will be brought forward, and those who turned away from it will be condemned.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that rejecting divine guidance is not a matter of ignorance but of willful arrogance and moral degradation. For believers, it serves as a warning to remain humble before Allah's signs and to guard against the pride that blinded the disbelievers.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالُوا۟ مَا هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَآ إِلَّا ٱلدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
And they say, "There is not but our worldly life; we die and live, and nothing destroys us except time." And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming.
أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِۦ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَـٰوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allāh has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allāh? Then will you not be reminded?
وَإِذَا عَلِمَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا شَيْـًٔا ٱتَّخَذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And when he knows anything of Our verses, he takes them in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Say, "Allāh causes you to live, then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt, but most of the people do not know."