قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَأْتُونَنَا عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 28
Translations
They will say, "Indeed, you used to come at us from the right."
Transliteration
Qālū inna-kum kuntum ta'tūna-nā 'ani al-yamīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people of Paradise address the people of Hell, saying, 'Indeed, you used to come to us from the right (with invitations to righteousness).' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the righteous believers who invited the disbelievers to Islam and warned them against evil, yet they rejected these calls. The phrase 'from the right' (عن اليمين) signifies coming with truth, guidance, and sincere counsel, as the right side in Islamic tradition represents honor and correctness.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah As-Saffat's vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment and the dialogue between the inhabitants of Paradise and Hell. It is part of a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period to strengthen the believers' conviction in the Hereafter and warn the disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting the message brought by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 3344): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family,' which relates to the theme of righteous guidance and counsel. Additionally, Muslim (1218) records hadith about the intercession and dialogue between the people of Paradise and Hell on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that rejection of sincere religious guidance and righteous counsel carries severe consequences in the Hereafter. It emphasizes our responsibility to convey Islamic teachings with wisdom and kindness, knowing that our sincere efforts to guide others—even if rejected—will be a testimony in our favor on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
ٱصْلَوْهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
[Enter to] burn therein today for what you used to deny."
وَٱلشَّفْعِ وَٱلْوَتْرِ
And [by] the even [number] and the odd
ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ
[They will be told], "Proceed to that which you used to deny.
وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?