وَأَتْبَعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمَقْبُوحِينَ 42
Translations
And We caused to overtake them in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be of the despised.
Transliteration
Wa atba'nāhum fī hādhihī ad-dunyā la'natan wa yawma al-qiyāmati hum mina al-maqbūḥīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Pharaoh and his people who were cursed in this worldly life as a consequence of their rejection of Allah's signs and persecution of the believers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that the curse (la'nah) manifested through humiliation, destruction of their kingdom, and eternal separation from Allah's mercy, while on the Day of Judgment they will be among those who are utterly despised and disgraceful (al-maqbūḥīn). Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this serves as a warning to all who arrogantly reject divine guidance and oppress the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Al-Qasas, which recounts the story of Prophet Moses (Musa) and his confrontation with Pharaoh. The verse directly follows the account of Pharaoh's drowning and addresses the fate of those who followed him in disbelief and transgression, reinforcing the surah's theme of divine justice and the ultimate triumph of truth over falsehood.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever curses the people of the Book, may Allah curse him,' illustrating how divine curse comes to those who persist in wrong. Additionally, multiple hadiths in Sahih Muslim describe the fate of the arrogant and unjust on the Day of Judgment, paralleling the description of al-maqbūḥīn (the despised).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that oppression and arrogance against Allah's message inevitably lead to disgrace and divine punishment, both in this life through humiliation and loss, and in the Hereafter through eternal condemnation. For believers, it provides reassurance that Allah protects His cause and His people, while warning against tyranny and disbelief regardless of worldly power or status.