قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُلٌّ فِيهَآ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ حَكَمَ بَيْنَ ٱلْعِبَادِ 48
Translations
Those who had been arrogant will say, "Indeed, all [of us] are in it. Indeed, Allāh has judged between the servants."
Transliteration
Qala alladhina istakbaru inna kulla fiha inna Allaha qad hakama bayna al-ibad
Tafsir (Explanation)
The arrogant disbelievers in the Hellfire respond to the believers by claiming that all of them are suffering together in Hell, suggesting that Allah's judgment between His servants has been executed upon all alike. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah depicts the arrogant ones' desperate attempt to console themselves by denying any distinction between their punishment and that of others, though the context of Surah Ghafir makes clear that the believers will ultimately be distinguished and elevated. The statement "Allah has judged between His servants" affirms the certainty and justice of the divine decree, even as the disbelievers deny it.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan surah Ghafir, which extensively discusses the scenes of the Day of Judgment and the dialogue between the inhabitants of Paradise and Hell. The ayah is part of a broader Quranic theme responding to the Meccan disbelievers' denials of the afterlife and divine justice, providing vivid imagery of their eventual realization of truth in the next world.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3244): The Prophet ﷺ described the Day of Judgment and how people will be sorted according to their deeds. Sahih Muslim (2388): A hadith describing the segregation of the righteous from the wicked on the Day of Judgment, supporting the Quranic theme of distinction between believers and disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that no matter how the arrogant attempt to deny or rationalize divine justice, Allah's judgment is absolute and inescapable. We should use this as motivation to embrace faith and humility in this life, knowing that our deeds will be justly evaluated and that no excuse or rationalization will avail us on the Day of Judgment.