وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَفَلَمْ تَكُنْ ءَايَـٰتِى تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ 31
Translations
But as for those who disbelieved, [it will be said], "Were not Our verses recited to you, but you were arrogant and became a criminal people?
Transliteration
Wa-amma alladhina kafaroo afalam takun ayatee tutla alaykum fastakbartum wa kuntum qawman mujrimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, rebuking them for their rejection despite receiving clear signs (the Qur'an). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that their arrogance (istikbar) and criminal behavior (ijram) prevented them from accepting the truth, despite having full awareness of Allah's signs. The ayah highlights that rejection of divine guidance stems not from lack of knowledge but from deliberate arrogance and moral corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the final scene of Surah Al-Jathiyah, which depicts the Day of Judgment and Allah's address to believers and disbelievers regarding their deeds. The broader context of the surah emphasizes signs in creation and the consequences of rejecting them. The specific context here is Allah's direct address to the disbelievers in the afterlife, making their inexcusable state clear.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most despicable person in Allah's sight is the obstinate disbeliever' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim states that on the Day of Judgment, the Qur'an will be brought forward, and those who turned away from it will be condemned.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that rejecting divine guidance is not a matter of ignorance but of willful arrogance and moral degradation. For believers, it serves as a warning to remain humble before Allah's signs and to guard against the pride that blinded the disbelievers.
Related Ayahs
مِّن وَرَآئِهِمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مَّا كَسَبُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا مَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Before them is Hell, and what they had earned will not avail them at all nor what they had taken besides Allāh as allies. And they will have a great punishment.
أَفَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِۦ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِهِۦ غِشَـٰوَةً فَمَن يَهْدِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allāh has sent him astray due to knowledge and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allāh? Then will you not be reminded?
وَقِيلَ ٱلْيَوْمَ نَنسَىٰكُمْ كَمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا وَمَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
And it will be said, "Today We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours, and your refuge is the Fire, and for you there are no helpers.
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَخْسَرُ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And the Day the Hour appears - that Day the falsifiers will lose.