قَالُوا۟ تِلْكَ إِذًا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌ 12
Translations
They say, "That, then, would be a losing return."
Transliteration
Qalū tilka ʾidhan karratun khāsirah
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers say that resurrection would be a losing return, meaning they view the prospect of being brought back to life after death as a futile and disadvantageous affair. Ibn Kathir explains that the word 'karrah' (return) refers to the resurrection, and 'khāsirah' (losing/ruinous) expresses their rejection and denial of accountability in the afterlife, as they fear punishment for their deeds. This statement encapsulates the stubborn denial of the Meccan polytheists who refused to accept the reality of the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the context of Surah An-Nazi'at, a Meccan surah that powerfully describes the cosmic events of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. The surah is addressing the disbelievers' mockery and denial of resurrection, presenting their objections and then refuting them with vivid descriptions of Allah's power to resurrect humanity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Hour will not be established until... people will wish to be dead' (Sahih Bukhari 82:797), reflecting the desperate state of those who rejected resurrection. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about how disbelievers will regret their denial on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that those who deny the Hereafter do so not from logical inability to comprehend resurrection, but from their refusal to accept moral accountability before Allah. We should reflect on our own readiness for the return to our Creator and ensure our deeds reflect genuine belief in the Day of Judgment.