يُعْرَفُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِى وَٱلْأَقْدَامِ 41
Translations
The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.
Transliteration
Yu'rafu al-mujrimun bi-siymahum fa-yu'khadhu bi-an-nawasi wa-al-aqdami
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the criminals will be recognized and identified on the Day of Judgment by their distinctive marks or signs, after which they will be seized by their forelocks (hair of the head) and their feet. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the 'signs' (siymah) refer to the marks of punishment and shame that will be visible upon them—such as blackened faces mentioned elsewhere in the Quran—making their identity as evildoers unmistakable. The act of seizing them by the forelock and feet emphasizes their complete subjugation and the severity of their punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rahman, which is primarily Medinan and deals with the signs of Allah's mercy balanced against the consequences of rejecting His guidance. The surah's repeated refrain 'Which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?' sets a context where this ayah serves as a stark reminder of the inevitable accountability awaiting those who persist in criminal rebellion against Allah.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (#2806) describes the Day of Judgment where people will be marked and identified by their deeds: faces will be bright from prostration, and extremities will bear marks from ablution. Similarly, Sahih Bukhari (#4735) references the marking of the believers versus the criminals on the Day of Resurrection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that no criminal can hide their true nature or escape identification before Allah on the Day of Judgment—our actions leave indelible marks upon our souls. For believers, it reinforces the importance of repentance and righteous conduct in this life, as accountability is certain and inescapable.