وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ 30
Translations
If you could but see when they will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will [then] say, "So taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
Transliteration
Wa law tarā idhā wuqifū 'alā rabbihim qāla a-laysa hādhā bil-haqq qālū balā wa-rabbinā qāla fa-dhūqū al-'adhāba bimā kuntum takfurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the scene on the Day of Judgment when disbelievers are brought before their Lord, who questions them about the truth they rejected in the worldly life. When they are forced to admit the truth of Allah's oneness and message, Allah commands them to taste the punishment as a consequence of their willful rejection (kufr). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the moment when all denial becomes impossible and the disbelievers are confronted with undeniable reality, yet this recognition comes too late to benefit them.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am, revealed in Mecca during the early-to-middle Meccan period. It addresses the pagan Arabs who stubbornly rejected the message of monotheism and the Quran despite witnessing clear signs. The ayah serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of rejecting divine guidance, emphasizing that denial on Earth will not save one from accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reflected in the hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) described how people will recognize their Lord on the Day of Judgment. Additionally, Surah As-Sajdah 32:12 contains a parallel description of this scene, reinforcing the theme throughout the Quran.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that denial of truth in this life does not exempt us from facing that truth on the Day of Judgment; rather, it only multiplies our punishment. It encourages believers to embrace the truth of Allah's message in this life while there is still opportunity for repentance and righteous deeds.
Related Ayahs
أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّمْ يَرَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ
Does he think that no one has seen him?
لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
That He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds out of His bounty. Indeed, He does not like the disbelievers.
بَلْ تَأْتِيهِم بَغْتَةً فَتَبْهَتُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Rather, it will come to them unexpectedly and bewilder them, and they will not be able to repel it, nor will they be reprieved.
وَأُتْبِعُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ
And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, ʿAad denied their Lord; then away with ʿAad, the people of Hūd.