يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ 34
Translations
On the Day a man will flee from his brother
Transliteration
Yawma yafarru al-marʾu min akhīhi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when a person will flee from his brother, unable to help or support him due to the overwhelming terror and self-concern of that day. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that despite familial bonds in this life, on the Day of Resurrection each soul will be preoccupied with its own fate, and no one can intercede or assist another without Allah's permission. This depicts the complete severance of worldly relationships and the isolation each soul experiences before Allah's judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah 'Abasa, a Meccan surah that vividly describes the scenes of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. It appears in a passage (verses 33-42) detailing various aspects of that Day, emphasizing the terror, separation, and helplessness people will experience when confronted with divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'On the Day of Judgment, a man will flee from his father, mother, and spouse, and his children, for everyone will be preoccupied with his own concern' (Sahih Bukhari 4770). Additionally, the Quran states 'The Day when no soul will avail another in the least' (82:19), emphasizing the theme of isolation on that Day.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that worldly relationships, though important in this life, offer no benefit on the Day of Judgment, motivating us to prioritize our relationship with Allah and prepare our souls through righteous deeds rather than relying on family connections for salvation.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ
Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allāh, our Lord, we were not those who associated."
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِى سَقَرَ
[And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?"
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَخْسَرُ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And the Day the Hour appears - that Day the falsifiers will lose.
وَعُرِضُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۭ ۚ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا
And they will be presented before your Lord in rows, [and He will say], "You have certainly come to Us just as We created you the first time. But you claimed that We would never make for you an appointment."