وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ عَذَابًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 47
Translations
And indeed, for those who have wronged is a punishment before that, but most of them do not know.
Transliteration
Wa-inna lilladhina dhalamoo AAadhaaban doona dhalik wa-laakin aktharhum laa yaaAAlamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that those who commit injustice and transgression will face punishment even in this worldly life, apart from the greater punishment awaiting them in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to the various afflictions, calamities, and divine retribution that Allah sends upon the oppressors during their lifetime—such as internal strife, loss of security, and degradation—yet most people remain heedless and fail to recognize these signs as divine warnings.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tur is a Meccan surah that emphasizes divine punishment and accountability on the Day of Judgment. This ayah appears in a passage discussing the certainty of Allah's punishment for the disbelievers and wrongdoers, forming part of the surah's broader theme of warning the Meccan polytheists about the inevitable consequences of their transgressions against Allah's signs.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever commits injustice, the burden of that injustice will be upon him.' Additionally, the Quranic principle in Surah Ar-Rum (30:41) is thematically connected: 'Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that wrongdoing carries immediate worldly consequences from Allah, serving as a mercy and warning before the Final Day—encouraging us to reflect on social turmoil, loss of security, and hardship as potential divine admonitions to repent and reform our conduct.