لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰذِبِينَ 39
Translations
[It is] so He will make clear to them [the truth of] that wherein they differ and so those who have disbelieved may know that they were liars.
Transliteration
Liyubayyina lahumu alladhī yakhtalifoona fīhi wa liya'lama alladhīna kafarū annahum kānū kādhībīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explains that Allah has established the Day of Judgment so that He may clarify to the believers those matters about which they differed in this world, and so that the disbelievers may know and acknowledge that they were liars in their denial of the truth. According to Ibn Kathir, this verse emphasizes that the Hereafter will serve as a definitive clarification of all disputed matters, vindicating the believers and exposing the falsehood of the disbelievers' claims and denials.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Nahl within a passage discussing the wisdom of Allah in creating the heavens and earth. It contextually addresses the disputes that existed between believers and disbelievers regarding Islamic teachings, prophetic messages, and matters of faith during the early Meccan period. The verse assures Muslims that their faith will be vindicated on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, the Qur'an and those who acted upon it will be brought forward' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the questioning in the grave relates to personal accountability for beliefs and actions in this life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah provides comfort to believers facing opposition and dispute in this world by assuring them that Allah will ultimately clarify all matters of disagreement on the Day of Judgment. It should inspire believers to remain steadfast in faith despite worldly disputes, knowing that the truth will be fully revealed and those who rejected it will have no excuse.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ ٱلْكَذِبَ هَـٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ وَهَـٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
And do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, "This is lawful and this is unlawful," to invent falsehood about Allāh. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allāh will not succeed.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who do not believe in the verses of Allāh - Allāh will not guide them, and for them is a painful punishment.
يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنكِرُونَهَا وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
They recognize the favor of Allāh; then they deny it. And most of them are disbelievers.
إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ ٱلسَّبْتُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it. And indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.