قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا وَكُنَّا قَوْمًا ضَآلِّينَ 106
Translations
They will say, "Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.
Transliteration
Qalū rabbană ghalabat 'alaynā shiqwatunā wa kunnā qawman dāllīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The inhabitants of Hell confess to their Lord that wretchedness and misery have overwhelmed them, and they acknowledge that they were a people who were astray and misguided in their earthly lives. Ibn Kathir explains that this statement reflects the believers' recognition of their own culpability and their abandonment of divine guidance, while Al-Tabari notes that 'shiqwah' (wretchedness/misery) refers to the state of being forsaken by God's mercy due to their own choices and rebellion.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun's description of the Day of Judgment and the conditions of the inhabitants of Hell. It is part of a broader Meccan narrative emphasizing accountability in the Hereafter and the consequences of disbelief and misguidance during one's earthly life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every soul will taste death, and then to Us will you be returned' (Quran 29:57). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned about following desires and abandoning guidance, which directly relates to the 'dalal' (misguidance) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that ultimate regret comes only after it is too late to change one's path; therefore, believers should seek guidance and righteousness in this life before facing the reality of their choices in the Hereafter. It serves as a profound reminder that misguidance is often self-inflicted through rejection of truth, making sincere repentance and adherence to faith essential while time remains.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ كُلًّا لَّمَّا لَيُوَفِّيَنَّهُمْ رَبُّكَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And indeed, each [of the believers and disbelievers] - your Lord will fully compensate them for their deeds. Indeed, He is Aware of what they do.
وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter - We have prepared for them a painful punishment.
وَمَن لَّا يُجِبْ دَاعِىَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَيْسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءُ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
But he who does not respond to the Caller of Allāh will not cause failure [to Him] upon earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَآ ۗ أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلنَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِىٓ ءَامِنًا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Indeed, those who inject deviation into Our verses are not concealed from Us. So, is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.