فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَـٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ 42
Translations
So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised -
Transliteration
Fa-dharhum yakhooḍoo wa yalʿaboo ḥattā yulāqoo yawmahumu alladhī yūʿadoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to leave the disbelievers to their frivolous pursuits and amusements until they meet the Day of Judgment that has been promised to them. Ibn Kathir explains that this is a directive to abandon trying to force belief upon those who reject the message, as their ultimate accountability rests with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Al-Tabari notes that the 'playing' and 'wading' (خَوْض) refers to their engagement in falsehood and denial, emphasizing that their temporary enjoyment will be met with inevitable divine justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'arij, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early persecution of Muslims. The broader context addresses the disbelievers' mockery and rejection of the message of resurrection and the Day of Judgment. This ayah comes after descriptions of the Day of Judgment and serves to console the Prophet regarding the rejection he faced, instructing him to remain patient while Allah deals with the deniers.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Surah Al-Furqan 25:44, where disbelievers are compared to livestock. Additionally, Tirmidhi and others record hadiths about the Prophet's patience with rejection, such as his instruction to leave those who mock the message to Allah's judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that those who reject divine truth will ultimately face accountability before Allah, and believers should not despair at others' mockery or rejection—rather, place trust in Allah's ultimate justice. It also reminds us that worldly amusement and heedlessness are temporary, and the real reckoning awaits all people.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَفَـٰسِقُونَ
And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.
وَلَوْلَآ أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, "Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?"...
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ لَّا يَجِدُونَ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
Abiding therein forever, they will not find a protector or a helper.
يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
He knows what is within the heavens and earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare. And Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts.