وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ 48
Translations
And there will appear to them the evils they had earned, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
Transliteration
Wa badā lahum sayyiātu mā kasabū wa ḥāqa bihim mā kānū bihī yastahziʾūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the evil deeds of the disbelievers will become manifest to them on the Day of Judgment, and the punishment they mocked in this life will befall them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'badā' (became apparent) signifies the revelation of hidden consequences, while 'ḥāqa' (encompassed/overtook) emphasizes the inevitability and inescapability of divine retribution. The ayah serves as a warning that mockery of faith and rejection of truth carries severe consequences that cannot be avoided.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message and ridiculed believers. The broader context of the surah concerns the reality of the Hereafter and the futility of shirk (associating partners with Allah), with this particular ayah appearing in a section describing the scenes of Judgment Day when disbelievers will witness the fruits of their actions.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2807) narrated by Abu Hurairah: 'Whoever mocks a verse of Allah or the Messenger of Allah will face punishment,' directly relates to the warning against mockery. Additionally, the general theme aligns with hadith about deeds being returned to their doers on Judgment Day.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all actions have consequences and that mocking faith or truth is a grave sin with eternal repercussions. It encourages believers to take their deeds seriously and treat religious matters with reverence, knowing that nothing remains hidden from Allah's knowledge and justice.
Related Ayahs
مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
What comes to you of good is from Allāh, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allāh as Witness.
فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ
And you are going to know who will get a punishment that will disgrace him [on earth] and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment [in the Hereafter]."
إِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ
Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.
إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ سَلَـٰسِلَا۟ وَأَغْلَـٰلًا وَسَعِيرًا
Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.