ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ مَـَٔابًا 39
Translations
That is the True [i.e., certain] Day; so he who wills may take to his Lord a [way of] return.
Transliteration
Dhālika al-yawmu al-ḥaqqu fa-man shāʾa ittakhadha ilā rabbihi maʾāban
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes Surah An-Naba by affirming that the Day of Judgment is absolute truth and reality. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that after the detailed descriptions of Paradise and Hell throughout the surah, Allah emphasizes that whoever wishes may choose to return to their Lord through sincere repentance and righteous deeds before that inevitable Day comes. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'maʾāb' (return/refuge) signifies both the physical return on the Day of Judgment and the spiritual path of repentance available in this life.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Naba is a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period when the Quraysh were denying the resurrection and the afterlife. This ayah serves as the powerful conclusion to the surah, reaffirming the certainty of the Day of Judgment after extensive descriptions of its events, and offering a final call to repentance. It contextualizes all the warnings and glad tidings mentioned previously as incentives for believers to prepare now.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Repentance erases what comes before it' (Sahih Muslim 2758). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'The best of you are those who repent to Allah and turn to Him the most' (Tirmidhi 3982), which relates directly to the concept of returning to one's Lord mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that while the Day of Judgment is an absolute certainty, we retain the choice and opportunity in this life to turn back to our Lord through sincere repentance and righteous action—a merciful reminder that it is never too late to change course spiritually.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِى ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ مَدًّا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَأَوْا۟ مَا يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا ٱلْعَذَابَ وَإِمَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضْعَفُ جُندًا
Say, "Whoever is in error - let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised - either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] - they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers."
لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥ ۚ يَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ
They will have canopies [i.e., layers] of fire above them and below them, canopies. By that Allāh threatens [i.e., warns] His servants. O My servants, then fear Me.
يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مُشْفِقُونَ مِنْهَا وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُمَارُونَ فِى ٱلسَّاعَةِ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
Those who do not believe in it are impatient for it, but those who believe are fearful of it and know that it is the truth. Unquestionably, those who dispute concerning the Hour are in extreme error.
فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ
Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat