وَوَقَعَ ٱلْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِم بِمَا ظَلَمُوا۟ فَهُمْ لَا يَنطِقُونَ 85
Translations
And the decree will befall them for the wrong they did, and they will not [be able to] speak.
Transliteration
Wa-waqaʿa al-qawlu ʿalayhim bi-mā ẓalamū fa-hum lā yanṭiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the decree of punishment will be executed upon the wrongdoers, rendering them speechless and unable to defend themselves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the silencing of the disbelievers reflects their complete humiliation and the futility of their arguments before Allah's justice—they will neither be able to speak in their own defense nor deny their transgressions. This silence emphasizes the certainty of divine justice and the powerlessness of those who rejected Allah's signs during their worldly life.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Naml (The Ant), a Meccan surah that extensively discusses scenes from the Day of Judgment and the fate of disbelievers. It fits within the broader context of verses 82-89 which depict various groups on the Day of Resurrection—their silencing illustrates the overwhelming reality of accountability when all excuses and arguments become meaningless before Allah.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of speechlessness on the Day of Judgment is a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ describes how people will wish to speak but will be prevented, emphasizing divine justice. Additionally, Surah Az-Zumar 39:60 mentions similar scenes where wrongdoers will be sealed with regret and unable to respond adequately.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no injustice goes unaccounted for and that all wrongdoing will be confronted with absolute clarity on the Day of Judgment. It serves as a powerful deterrent against wrongdoing in this life, urging us to seek repentance and righteousness while we still have the opportunity to speak and act.
Related Ayahs
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ جَـٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَمَن يُجَـٰدِلُ ٱللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَم مَّن يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Here you are - those who argue on their behalf in [this] worldly life - but who will argue with Allāh for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will [then] be their representative?
يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ٱلْمُبِينُ
That Day, Allāh will pay them in full their true [i.e., deserved] recompense, and they will know that it is Allāh who is the manifest Truth [i.e., perfect in justice].
لَّـٰبِثِينَ فِيهَآ أَحْقَابًا
In which they will remain for ages [unending].
وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَآءُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day when the enemies of Allāh will be gathered to the Fire while they are [driven], assembled in rows,