ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْخُلْدِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ 52
Translations
Then it will be said to those who had wronged, "Taste the punishment of eternity; are you being recompensed except for what you used to earn?"
Transliteration
Thumma qeela lilladhina dhalamu dhooqu adhaba al-khuldi hal tujzawna illa bima kuntum taksibuun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the wrongdoers (those who rejected Allah's signs and committed injustice) are told to taste the eternal punishment of Hell, with a rhetorical question emphasizing that they receive nothing but the just recompense for their deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this serves as a divine reminder of accountability: people are punished according to their actions, not arbitrarily. The phrase 'eternal punishment' (adhab al-khuldi) underscores the permanence of this consequence for those who persisted in disbelief.
Revelation Context
Surah Yunus is a Meccan surah addressing the pagan Arabs who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message. This ayah appears in the context of descriptions of the Day of Judgment and the fates of believers and disbelievers. It reinforces the central Quranic theme that divine punishment is proportionate and just, not oppressive.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back' (Quran 82:5, thematically related). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet described how each person's deeds will be shown to them on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that we bear full responsibility for our actions—there is no escape from the consequences of our choices, whether good or evil. It should motivate believers to examine their conduct and ensure their deeds are righteous, knowing that accountability before Allah is certain and just.
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.
سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًا مَّنِ ٱلْكَذَّابُ ٱلْأَشِرُ
They will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar.
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.
وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَـٰتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
And for all are degrees [i.e., positions resulting] from what they have done. And your Lord is not unaware of what they do.