وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ 33
Translations
And the evil consequences of what they did will appear to them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
Transliteration
Wa bada lahum sayyiatu ma amilu wa haqa bihim ma kanu bihi yastahziun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the evil deeds of the disbelievers will become manifest to them, and they will be punished by the very things they used to mock and ridicule. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi explain that 'bada lahum' (became apparent to them) refers to the sudden unveiling of their deeds' consequences, while 'haqa bihim' (encompassed them) emphasizes the inescapability of divine retribution. The ayah serves as a warning that mockery of divine signs and faith carries severe consequences in the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Jathiyah, which addresses those who reject divine guidance and turn away from the Qur'an. The ayah specifically addresses the fate of those who mocked believers and divine signs during their worldly life, emphasizing that their mockery will return upon them on the Day of Judgment when they witness the reality of their own deeds.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever mocks a person for a sin he has committed will not die until he commits that sin himself' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes how people's deeds will be presented to them on the Day of Judgment, directly relating to the concept of 'bada lahum' in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Mockery of faith, believers, or divine signs is not a trivial matter—it will return upon those who engage in it with severe consequences. This ayah reminds us to guard our tongues and to take seriously the signs of Allah, for what we ridicule in this world will confront us on the Day of Judgment when all illusions are stripped away.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.
فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ
And you are going to know who will get a punishment that will disgrace him [on earth] and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment [in the Hereafter]."
أَفَمَن يَتَّقِى بِوَجْهِهِۦ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَقِيلَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ
Then is he who will shield with his face the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection [like one secure from it]? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, "Taste what you used to earn."
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."