إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ 28
Translations
Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe -
Transliteration
Inna 'adhaba rabbihim ghayru ma'mun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that the punishment of their Lord is not safe or secure from occurring—meaning it is certain and inevitable for those who turn away from guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'ghayru ma'mun' (not safe/secure) to convey that God's punishment cannot be averted or delayed indefinitely, and there is no escape from it for the disobedient. The ayah serves as a stark warning to those who transgress and forget the accountability before Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan chapter revealed during the early phase of the Prophet's mission when the Quraysh were rejecting his message. This ayah appears in the context of describing the traits of the righteous believers (verses 22-35) and contrasting them with those who are heedless of God's signs and punishment. The surah emphasizes the reality of the Hereafter and divine accountability to motivate sincere belief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Fear Allah wherever you are, follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out, and treat people with good character.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1987). This hadith complements the warning by encouraging proactive righteousness as protection from punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate genuine fear of Allah's punishment not through despair, but as motivation for righteous action and sincere repentance. This ayah teaches that negligence toward God's commands carries serious consequences, encouraging modern Muslims to remain conscious of divine accountability in their daily lives.