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
لِّيُعَذِّبَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ وَيَتُوبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًۢا
[It was] so that Allāh may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the men and women who associate others with Him and that Allāh may accept repentance from the believing men and believing women. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
فَسَتَذْكُرُونَ مَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَصِيرٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ
And you will remember what I [now] say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Seeing of [His] servants."
فَيَقُولُوا۟ هَلْ نَحْنُ مُنظَرُونَ
And they will say, "May we be reprieved?"
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا ۖ وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَآ ۚ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.