تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ 41
Translations
Blackness will cover them.
Transliteration
Tarhaqu-ha qatratun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the faces of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment will be covered with darkness and gloom (qatrrah). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this qatrrah refers to a layer of darkness, filth, or humiliation that will cover their faces as a manifestation of their spiritual corruption and rejection of truth in the worldly life. This visual punishment reflects the internal darkness of their hearts that prevented them from accepting Allah's signs.
Revelation Context
Surah 'Abasa is a Meccan chapter that addresses the consequences of arrogance and rejection of divine guidance. This ayah appears in the section (verses 38-42) describing the fate of disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection, contrasting it with the reward of the righteous. The broader context emphasizes how one's choices in this life determine one's appearance and state in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The concept of faces being darkened on Judgment Day is referenced in Surah An-Nahl 16:58 and Surah 'Abasa 80:38-39. While no single hadith directly quotes this exact phrase, the theme appears in multiple ahadith about the Day of Judgment, such as those in Sahih Muslim describing the states of people based on their deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
Our choices and spiritual state in this life are reflected in our condition on the Day of Judgment; rejecting divine guidance leads to spiritual darkness that will be manifest even in appearance. This serves as a powerful reminder to seek knowledge, maintain faith, and avoid arrogance that blinds the heart to truth.