إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا۟ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا۟ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ 10
Translations
Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina fatanu al-mu'minin wa-al-mu'minat thumma lam yatuboo falahum adhab jahannama wa lahum adhab al-hareq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns those who persecute believers—both men and women—with severe punishment in the form of Hellfire and burning torment if they do not repent. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret 'fitnah' (persecution/trial) as referring specifically to the persecution of early Muslims, though the principle applies to all who oppress believers for their faith. The ayah emphasizes that repentance is the only means of escaping this punishment, and those who persist in persecution without repenting will face both the general torment of Jahannam and the specific torment of burning (al-hareq).
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Buruj was revealed in Mecca during the period of intense persecution of early Muslims. This ayah specifically addresses the pagan Meccans and their allies who tortured and murdered believers, including the story of the Companions who were thrown into a pit of fire (as referenced in the preceding ayahs 85:4-8). The surah provides consolation to the persecuted believers by assuring them of divine justice and punishment for their oppressors.
Related Hadiths
The persecution mentioned is contextually related to the incident of the 'Companions of the Ditch' (Ashab al-Ukhdud). Additionally, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said in Sahih Muslim: 'The most severely tested people are the prophets, then those nearest to them in piety,' emphasizing the spiritual rank of those who endure persecution for faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that oppression and persecution of people based on their faith invokes severe divine punishment, while simultaneously encouraging oppressors toward repentance and reform. For believers facing persecution, it provides assurance that God witnesses their suffering and will hold their oppressors accountable on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
كَأَن لَّمْ يَغْنَوْا۟ فِيهَآ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ثَمُودَا۟ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّثَمُودَ
As if they had never prospered therein. Unquestionably, Thamūd denied their Lord; then, away with Thamūd.
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established upon the earth as We have not established you? And We sent [rain from] the sky upon them in showers and made rivers flow beneath them; then We destroyed them for their sins and brought forth after them a generation of others.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place."
ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
They have been put under humiliation [by Allāh] wherever they are overtaken, except for a rope [i.e., covenant] from Allāh and a rope [i.e., treaty] from the people [i.e., the Muslims]. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allāh and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in [i.e., rejected] the verses of Allāh and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.