إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ 34
Translations
Indeed, that is how We deal with the criminals.
Transliteration
Inna kadhalika nafAAalu bialmujourimeena
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah deals with criminals and wrongdoers in this manner—with punishment and humiliation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse refers to the fate of the disbelievers and transgressors who reject Allah's signs, emphasizing that Divine punishment is a consistent law applied to all who commit crimes against Allah and His creation. The phrase 'kadhalika' (thus/in this manner) connects to the preceding narrative about the fate of those who denied the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat, which is a Meccan surah primarily concerned with refuting polytheism and affirming Allah's oneness and justice. The broader context discusses the punishment awaiting those who reject faith and commit transgressions, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers during the early Islamic period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent,' (Sahih Bukhari 6018), emphasizing the accountability of wrongdoers. Also relevant is the hadith: 'The curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers,' (Sunan Ibn Majah), which relates to Divine punishment for criminals.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that wrongdoing and rejection of truth carry inevitable consequences in the sight of Allah, serving as a deterrent against crime and transgression. It encourages believers to uphold justice and morality, knowing that Allah's punishment for criminals is certain and consistent.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ لَعْنَتِىٓ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Recompense."
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُهْلِكُوٓا۟ أَهْلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ۖ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And when Our messengers [i.e., angels] came to Abraham with the good tidings, they said, "Indeed, we will destroy the people of that [i.e., Lot's] city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers."
فَمَا بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُنظَرِينَ
And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.
وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْءَانًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ ٱلْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۗ بَل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَا۟يْـَٔسِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن لَّوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَى ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُوا۟ قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ وَعْدُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
And if there was any Qur’ān [i.e., recitation] by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur’ān], but to Allāh belongs the affair entirely. Then have those who believed not accepted that had Allāh willed, He would have guided the people, all of them? And those who disbelieve do not cease to be struck, for what they have done, by calamity - or it will descend near their home - until there comes the promise of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh does not fail in [His] promise.