وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ 14
Translations
And the Day the Hour appears - that Day they will become separated.
Transliteration
Wa yawma taqoomu as-saa'atu yawma'idhin yatafarraqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the Hour is established, and on that day people will separate into distinct groups—the righteous from the wicked, the believers from the disbelievers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this separation refers to the division of humanity based on their deeds and faith, with each group receiving their appointed end. The emphasis on 'that day' (yawma'idhin) underscores the certainty and specificity of this momentous event when all will be sorted according to divine justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rum is a Meccan chapter addressing the pagan Arabs and broader themes of monotheism, resurrection, and divine signs. This particular ayah appears within a passage (30:12-16) that vividly describes the scenes of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing the reality of resurrection which was denied by many of the Meccan polytheists. The surah's context involves responding to doubts about the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Day of Judgment will not come until people are divided into groups.' (At-Tirmidhi, classified as hasan). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim describing the separation of people on the Day of Judgment into groups of believers and disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that our earthly divisions and associations will mean nothing on the Day of Judgment; what matters is our individual faith and deeds. For believers, it should inspire conscious effort toward righteousness, knowing that on that day, we will be clearly separated and judged according to our sincere intentions and actions.
Related Ayahs
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ
To Him [alone] is attributed knowledge of the Hour. And fruits emerge not from their coverings nor does a female conceive or give birth except with His knowledge. And the Day He will call to them, "Where are My 'partners'?" they will say, "We announce to You that there is [no longer] among us any witness [to that]."
يُعْرَفُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِى وَٱلْأَقْدَامِ
The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱبْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِى رَحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But as for those whose faces turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allāh. They will abide therein eternally.
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].