وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَاسِرَةٌ 24
Translations
And [some] faces, that Day, will be contorted,
Transliteration
Wa-wujuhun yawma'idhin basirah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the faces of the disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection as being 'dark' or 'gloomy' (basirah), reflecting their despair and the punishment they will face. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the darkening of faces is both a literal manifestation of divine punishment and a symbol of the spiritual darkness that characterized their lives of disbelief. This contrasts sharply with the radiant faces of the believers described in the preceding ayah (75:22-23), emphasizing the stark difference in eternal destinies.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Qiyamah focuses on the certainty of the Day of Judgment and its terrors. This ayah appears in the section describing various scenes of the Resurrection, where Allah contrasts the states of believers and disbelievers. The broader context emphasizes that denial of the Day of Judgment will not prevent its occurrence, and all will face the consequences of their deeds.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'On the Day of Resurrection, some faces will be bright (nura) and some faces will be dark (ghubrah)' - a hadith that directly illustrates the concept of faces reflecting one's spiritual state. This is referenced in various collections including at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that our choices in this life have eternal consequences that will be visibly reflected on the Day of Judgment. It serves as a profound motivation to align our hearts and actions with faith, knowing that authentic belief brings spiritual radiance while rejection of truth brings only darkness and despair.