يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَعَصَوُا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّىٰ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَا يَكْتُمُونَ ٱللَّهَ حَدِيثًا 42
Translations
That Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish they could be covered by the earth. And they will not conceal from Allāh a [single] statement.
Transliteration
Yawma'idhin yawaddu alladhina kafaroo wa 'asawu ar-rasoola law tusawwa bihimu al-ard wa la yaktumoon Allaha hadeetha
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish that the earth could be leveled over them (that they could be buried in it and cease to exist), and they will not be able to hide any of their deeds from Allah. Ibn Kathir explains this as depicting the intense regret and humiliation of the disbelievers when they face divine judgment, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this wish to be covered by the earth reflects their desperate desire to escape the punishment and shame of that Day, yet their concealment will be impossible as all secrets are laid bare before Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage discussing the events and realities of the Day of Judgment. It comes after verses about those who argue about Allah's signs without knowledge, reinforcing themes of accountability and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and the Prophet's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The Day of Judgment will not be established until the sun rises from the west; when the people see it, all those who disbelieve will believe, but that will be the time when no soul shall have benefit from its Belief.' (Sahih Bukhari 4636). Additionally, Surah At-Tariq (86:9) complements this theme: 'The Day when secrets will be put on trial.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that every action and intention is recorded by Allah and will be revealed on the Day of Judgment, motivating believers to maintain consciousness of God (taqwa) and sincerity in their obedience. It should inspire readers to reflect on the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and to seize the opportunity in this life to align themselves with the truth before all secrets are exposed.
Related Ayahs
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَـٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًٔا مَّرِيٓـًٔا
And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
Indeed, Allāh commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allāh instructs you. Indeed, Allāh is ever Hearing and Seeing.
وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِۦ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا
And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him [i.e., Jesus] before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness.
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا
And it has already come down to you in the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] that when you hear the verses of Allāh [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allāh will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -