إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا 10
Translations
Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful."
Transliteration
Inna nakhāfu min rabbinā yawman 'abūsan qamtarīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses the righteous servants' fear of their Lord on a Day of Judgment that will be stern, gloomy, and difficult. The words 'abūsan (frowning, gloomy) and qamtarīrā (severe, harsh, contracted/tight) describe the intensity and harshness of that Day. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as the believers' healthy fear (khawf) of Allah—not despair, but rather a consciousness of Divine accountability that motivates righteousness and prevents arrogance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Insan (Chapter 76), a Medinan surah that describes the characteristics of righteous servants who will receive Paradise. The broader context illustrates those who feed the poor, orphans, and prisoners for the sake of Allah alone, motivated by fear of the Day of Judgment. This ayah encapsulates the believers' mindset: performing good deeds while maintaining awareness of Divine reckoning.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and behave towards people with good character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1987). Additionally, 'The best fear is the fear of Allah' relates to the consciousness mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith is accompanied by a reverent fear of Allah's judgment that motivates good deeds and moral behavior—not a paralyzing fear, but a consciousness that shapes one's choices and relationships with others. Modern believers should balance hope in Allah's mercy with healthy awareness of accountability, allowing this awareness to purify intentions and strengthen character.