لَا تَرْكُضُوا۟ وَٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَآ أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَـٰكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْـَٔلُونَ 13
Translations
[Some angels said], "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."
Transliteration
Lā tarkuḍū wa-irjiʿū ilā mā utriftu fisih wa-masākinikum laʿallakum tusʾalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records Allah's command to the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, telling them to stop fleeing and return to the luxuries and comfortable dwellings they enjoyed in the worldly life, since they denied the resurrection and afterlife. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a form of mockery and rebuke—the disbelievers are sarcastically invited to enjoy their previous comforts, emphasizing the futility of their worldly pursuits in light of eternal consequences. The phrase 'perhaps you will be questioned' refers to their being held accountable for their deeds on that Day.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Anbiya's broader Meccan context, which emphasizes the certainty of the Hour and resurrection. The passage (21:12-15) depicts the events of Judgment Day, with disbelievers fleeing in terror before Allah, and this command to return to their worldly pleasures serves as a powerful rhetorical device highlighting their delusion about the temporary nature of worldly life.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet ﷺ mentioned that Allah will ask the wealthy about their wealth on Judgment Day. Also relevant is the hadith about the Day of Judgment in Muslim (2788) describing the terror and confusion of disbelievers, which provides context for their attempted flight in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to become attached to worldly luxuries and comforts, as they are transient and will provide no refuge on the Day of Judgment. It serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize the eternal over the temporal and to remain conscious that all material blessings are temporary tests from Allah.