قُلُوبٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاجِفَةٌ 8
Translations
Hearts, that Day, will tremble,
Transliteration
Qulubun yawma'idhin wajifah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the state of hearts on the Day of Judgment, when they will be in a state of fear and anxiety (wajifah). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the hearts of the disbelievers and those who rejected Allah's signs, who will experience overwhelming terror and palpitation as they face the reality of the Hereafter. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'wajifah' (trembling/pounding) describes hearts that are shaking with extreme fear, unable to find peace or tranquility in that dreadful moment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah An-Nazi'at, a Meccan chapter that vividly describes the events of the Day of Judgment. The surah emphasizes the certainty of resurrection and the terror that will befall those who denied it during their worldly life. This ayah is part of a sequence describing the psychological and physical terror experienced by people when the Hour is established.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The hearts will be anxious on the Day of Judgment' (related to this theme in various narrations). See also Surah Al-Adiyat 100:9-10, which describes hearts becoming 'ungrateful' and fearful, thematically connected to the anxiety described here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that true peace and security come only through faith and righteous deeds in this world; those who turn away from Allah's guidance will face unbearable anguish on the Day of Judgment. We should use this sobering reminder to strengthen our hearts through remembrance of Allah and sincere obedience during our lifetime.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓا۟ ۚ أَحْصَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ وَنَسُوهُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
On the Day when Allāh will resurrect them all and inform them of what they did. Allāh had enumerated it, while they forgot it; and Allāh is, over all things, Witness.
فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍۭ
Fleeing from a lion?
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand.
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ
And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],