وَلَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ 36
Translations
Nor will it be permitted for them to make an excuse.
Transliteration
wa lā yu'dhanu lahum fa ya'tadhirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that the inhabitants of Hell will not be permitted to offer excuses or apologies for their disbelief and sins. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that on the Day of Judgment, all excuses will be rendered null and void, as Allah's justice is absolute and people had sufficient warning through His messengers and signs. This ayah underscores the finality of judgment and the futility of excuses before Allah when one's deeds have already determined their fate.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mursalat, a Meccan surah that powerfully describes the Day of Judgment and the fate of disbelievers and believers. The surah's context is eschatological, warning the Quraysh of the inevitable reckoning, and this particular ayah fits within the description of the helplessness and hopelessness of those in Hell.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that on the Day of Judgment, people will wish to return to life to correct their deeds, but this will not be granted. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 7:53 contains a related theme: 'They will say, "Our Lord, we have obeyed our masters and our chiefs, and they led us astray from the [right] way."' showing the futility of excuses.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that excuses and deflections will have no value before Allah on the Day of Judgment; therefore, one must take responsibility for their choices in this life and turn to Allah in repentance while the opportunity exists. It also warns against postponing faith and obedience, as the chance to excuse oneself will be eternally lost.
Related Ayahs
فَٱصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعَزْمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ ۚ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ لَمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّن نَّهَارٍۭ ۚ بَلَـٰغٌ ۚ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], as were those of determination among the messengers and do not be impatient for them. It will be - on the Day they see that which they are promised - as though they had not remained [in the world] except an hour of a day. [This is] notification. And will [any] be destroyed except the defiantly disobedient people?
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم بَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And We gave them clear proofs of the matter [of religion]. And they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allāh is your return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيٓـَٔتْ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ
But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be distressed, and it will be said, "This is that for which you used to call."