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
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجْزِىَ قَوْمًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], to those who have believed that they [should] forgive those who expect not the days of Allāh [i.e., of His retribution] so that He may recompense a people for what they used to earn.
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآؤُكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will gather them all together; then We will say to those who associated others with Allāh, "Where are your 'partners' that you used to claim [with Him]?"
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.
وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ
And Allāh will surely make evident those who believe, and He will surely make evident the hypocrites.