وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ 22
Translations
[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant,
Transliteration
Wujuhun yawma'idhin nadirah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the faces of the believers on the Day of Resurrection as being radiant, luminous, and full of joy and beauty. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'nadirah' (نَاضِرَةٌ) means fresh, bright, and glowing with happiness, reflecting the pleasure and honor of those who enter Paradise. This radiance is a manifestation of their delight at meeting Allah and receiving His rewards, contrasting sharply with the darkened faces of the disbelievers mentioned in the following ayahs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Qiyamah, a Meccan surah that vividly describes scenes from the Day of Judgment. It appears in a passage (75:22-25) that contrasts the joyful appearance of the righteous with the gloomy appearance of the wicked, serving as a powerful reminder to the early Meccan audience about the reality of the afterlife and divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The faces of the people of Paradise will be white and shining like the moon' (Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet described the brightness of believers' faces in Paradise as surpassing the brightness of the sun (related in various hadith collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that righteous deeds in this life will result in visible joy and honor on the Day of Judgment, encouraging us to maintain spiritual consciousness and moral integrity. The promise of a radiant face before Allah should inspire hope and motivate adherence to Islamic principles even in times of hardship.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ
On the Day the sky will be like murky oil,
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
وَجِا۟ىٓءَ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بِجَهَنَّمَ ۚ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ
And brought [within view], that Day, is Hell - that Day, man will remember, but how [i.e., what good] to him will be the remembrance?
ثُمَّ أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَىٰٓ
Then woe to you, and woe!