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
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word [i.e., decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers."
فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِى سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
And he will look and see him in the midst of the Hellfire.
وَذَٰلِكُمْ ظَنُّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُمْ أَرْدَىٰكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And that was your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has brought you to ruin, and you have become among the losers."
ذَٰلِكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَمْرَحُونَ
[The angels will say], "That was because you used to exult upon the earth without right and you used to behave insolently.