فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَـٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ 83
Translations
So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised.
Transliteration
Fa-dharhum yakhūḍū wa-yal'abū ḥattā yuláqū yawmahum alladhī yū'adūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to disregard the disbelievers who persist in frivolity and heedlessness, assuring him that they will inevitably face the Day of Judgment they are warned about. Ibn Kathir explains this as divine patience with the arrogant—they are granted respite in this life, but their ultimate meeting with their promised Day is certain and inescapable. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this verse reflects Allah's wisdom in not hastening punishment, allowing time for repentance while maintaining the promise of ultimate accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Az-Zukhruf during a period when the Quraysh were mocking and ridiculing the Prophet's message. The surah addresses their obsession with worldly ornaments and false gods. This verse provides consolation to the Prophet by instructing him to abandon concern over their mockery, as their Day of Reckoning is inevitable.
Related Hadiths
The theme of overlooking disbelievers' mockery relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) was patient with the abuse of the Quraysh, trusting in Allah's promise of ultimate vindication. Additionally, this connects to hadiths about the certainty of the Day of Judgment (e.g., Muslim 2940) where Allah guarantees all souls will taste death and face accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to remain steadfast in faith despite ridicule and worldly distractions, secure in the knowledge that all will ultimately face divine judgment. It encourages patience with opposition, recognizing that frivolous pursuits and denial cannot alter the appointed meeting with God.