وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۙ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ 50
Translations
And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved... They are striking their faces and their backs and [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.
Transliteration
Wa-law tarā idhā yatawaffā alladhīna kafarū al-malāʾikatu yaḍribūna wujūhahum wa-adbārahum wa-dhūqū ʿadhāba al-ḥarīq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah vividly depicts the moment when angels seize the souls of disbelievers at death, striking their faces and backs while commanding them to taste the punishment of the Fire. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this describes the humiliation and torment the disbelievers experience at the moment of death, as a prelude to their eternal punishment in Hell. The ayah emphasizes both the physical aspect of their punishment and the shame they endure as they are forcefully taken by the angels.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anfal (revealed in Medina), which discusses the Battle of Badr and its lessons. It appears within a passage (8:50-52) that contrasts the fate of believers and disbelievers, serving to warn the disbelievers of Quraysh and strengthen the resolve of the Muslim community during early Medinan struggles.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned in various hadiths the severity of death for disbelievers. Muslim reported that the Prophet described how the angels of death come to the disbeliever with a black cloth, emphasizing the difficulty and humiliation of their departure from this life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a sobering reminder that rejection of faith carries severe consequences not only in the afterlife but even at the moment of death itself, encouraging believers to steadfast in faith and warning against arrogance and disbelief. It underscores the importance of preparing for death through righteous deeds and sincere belief in Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنَّهُۥٓ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا ٱلْأُولَىٰ
And that He destroyed the first [people of] ʿAad.
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَـٰلِحًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْىِ يَوْمِئِذٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ
So when Our command came, We saved Ṣāliḥ and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.
كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ ۙ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them. They disbelieved in the signs of Allāh, so Allāh seized them for their sins. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and severe in penalty.
قَالَ فَٱذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ لَكَ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ أَن تَقُولَ لَا مِسَاسَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَكَ مَوْعِدًا لَّن تُخْلَفَهُۥ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِكَ ٱلَّذِى ظَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عَاكِفًا ۖ لَّنُحَرِّقَنَّهُۥ ثُمَّ لَنَنسِفَنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ نَسْفًا
[Moses] said, "Then go. And indeed, it is [decreed] for you in [this] life to say, 'No contact.' And indeed, you have an appointment [in the Hereafter] you will not fail to keep. And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it [i.e., its ashes] into the sea with a blast.