وَٱقْتَرَبَ ٱلْوَعْدُ ٱلْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِىَ شَـٰخِصَةٌ أَبْصَـٰرُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ 97
Translations
And [when] the true promise [i.e., the resurrection] has approached; then suddenly the eyes of those who disbelieved will be staring [in horror, while they say], "O woe to us; we had been unmindful of this; rather, we were wrongdoers."
Transliteration
Wa iqtaraba al-waʿdu al-ḥaqqu fa-idhā hiya shākhiṣatun abṣāru alladhīna kafarū yā waylana qad kunnā fī ghaflatim min hādhā bal kunnā ẓālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the true promise of Allah draws near, and the disbelievers' eyes will stare in horror and regret. Ibn Kathir explains that 'shākhiṣah' (staring) refers to eyes that remain fixed and dilated in terror and despair. The disbelievers then lament their heedlessness and denial during their worldly life, acknowledging they were not merely forgetful but active wrongdoers who deliberately rejected the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan surah that discusses the resurrection and judgment. It follows the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn and Yajuj wa Majuj (Gog and Magog) and serves as a vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment, illustrating the terror and remorse of the disbelievers when faced with the reality they denied.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers' eyes will be fixed in terror when they see the punishment.' Also relevant is the hadith about people wishing to return to the world to rectify their deeds (Surah Al-Muminun 99-100), emphasizing this theme of regret.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that indifference to divine guidance is not mere forgetfulness but a form of injustice to oneself. Believers should use this as motivation to remain vigilant and conscious of Allah's signs rather than living in heedlessness, as awareness now prevents the eternal regret depicted on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
وَلُوطًا ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلَّتِى كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَـٰسِقِينَ
And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient.
وَإِنْ أَدْرِى لَعَلَّهُۥ فِتْنَةٌ لَّكُمْ وَمَتَـٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
And I know not; perhaps it is a trial for you and enjoyment for a time."
وَإِذَا رَءَاكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَذْكُرُ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And when those who disbelieve see you, [O Muḥammad], they take you not except in ridicule, [saying], "Is this the one who mentions [i.e., insults] your gods?" And they are, at the mention of the Most Merciful, disbelievers.