قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا 87
Translations
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
Transliteration
Qāla ammā man ẓalama fasawfa nuʿadhdhihu thumma yuraddū ilā rabbihi fayuʿadhdhibu ʿadhāban nukrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Dhul-Qarnayn declares that those who commit oppression (ẓulm) in his realm will face punishment in this life, and then be returned to their Lord for an even more severe and disgraceful punishment in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah illustrates the dual accountability of wrongdoers—both in the earthly kingdom and before Allah—and that the punishment of the Hereafter (ʿadhāban nukrā, a severe and ignominious torment) far exceeds any worldly consequence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Dhul-Qarnayn (often identified with Alexander the Great or a righteous ruler), who was given dominion over lands and resources. The broader context (18:83-98) presents him as a just ruler who established justice and built a wall against Gog and Magog. This statement reflects his commitment to enforcing justice and accountability within his realm while acknowledging ultimate divine judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of judges are those who render judgment justly' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi: 'O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another' (Sahih Muslim 2577).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that wrongdoing carries consequences both in this world and the next, and that true justice requires accountability before Allah regardless of one's power or position. It encourages rulers and individuals to establish justice in their sphere of influence while understanding that all authority derives from and answers to Allah's ultimate judgment.
Related Ayahs
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شَهِيدًا
So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you, [O Muḥammad], against these [people] as a witness?
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother [i.e., principal city] a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.
كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and those before them. They denied Our signs, so Allāh seized them for their sins. And Allāh is severe in penalty.