قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ 28
Translations
[Allāh] will say, "Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the threat [i.e., warning].
Transliteration
Qala la takhtatsimu ladayya wa qad qaddamtu ilaikum bil-wa'id
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the deniers and disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, commanding them to cease their disputes and arguments before Him, for He had already warned them through His messengers in the worldly life. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that all excuses and quarrels become futile on the Day of Judgment, as the warnings were clear and sufficient during the life of this world. The ayah demonstrates Allah's justice—He gave ample warning, so there remains no basis for dispute or blame-shifting in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Qaf, a Meccan chapter dealing with themes of resurrection, divine judgment, and the ultimate accountability of mankind. It is part of a broader passage (50:20-29) describing the scenes of the Day of Judgment, where Allah addresses different groups of people and their responses to His judgment.
Related Hadiths
The themes of this ayah relate to the hadith in Sahih Muslim wherein the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned that on the Day of Judgment, people will wish to hide their deeds, and none can dispute with Allah's judgment. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf (7:51) contains a similar theme: 'Indeed, those who took their religion as amusement and diversion and whom worldly life deluded—[their] deeds are lost.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah gives clear warnings in this life through revelation and guidance, making excuses or denial on the Day of Judgment inexcusable. We should heed divine warnings now while we have the opportunity, recognizing that our current debates and denials will hold no weight before our Lord on that inevitable day.
Related Ayahs
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ
Assuredly, Allāh knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.
وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَهُمْ فَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ ٱلْعَدَاوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
And from those who say, "We are Christians" We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. So We caused among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. And Allāh is going to inform them about what they used to do.
لِيَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ ۚ فَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
So that they will deny what We have granted them. Then enjoy yourselves, for you are going to know.
وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًا مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُم بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
And [Abraham] said, "You have only taken, other than Allāh, idols as [a bond of] affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers."