كَلَّا ۖ بَل لَّا يَخَافُونَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ 53
Translations
No! But they do not fear the Hereafter.
Transliteration
Kalla bal la yakhafun al-akhirah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphatically refutes the disbelievers' claims and declarations, stating the true reason for their rejection of the Qur'an and the message: they do not fear the Hereafter. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah reveals that the disbelievers' denial stems not from intellectual objection but from their spiritual heedlessness and lack of belief in divine accountability. Their denial of the Afterlife is the root cause of their arrogance and rejection of guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Muddaththir, which addresses the disbelievers' various excuses and objections to accepting Islam. The surah repeatedly exposes the weakness of their arguments and their true motivations. This particular ayah comes in the context of the disbelievers making demands and denials, revealing that their core problem is the absence of fear of Allah's judgment in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of this ummah is like the example of rain whose initial part is good and whose last part is good.' (Tirmidhi) - thematically related to accountability and the Hereafter. Also relevant: 'Remember frequently the thing that cuts off all pleasures - death.' (Tirmidhi) - emphasizing mindfulness of the Afterlife.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that genuine belief in the Hereafter fundamentally transforms behavior and values; without true conviction in divine accountability, people will continue in misguidance and arrogance. The lesson for believers is to nurture constant awareness of the Afterlife as a motivator for righteousness and a guard against disobedience.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ
And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease [i.e., hypocrisy] and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allāh intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allāh send astray whom He wills and guide whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it [i.e., mention of the Fire] is not but a reminder to humanity.
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ وَبَسَرَ
Then he frowned and scowled;
ثُمَّ يَطْمَعُ أَنْ أَزِيدَ
Then he desires that I should add more.
عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ
Over it are nineteen [angels].