يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ 11
Translations
They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children.
Transliteration
Yubaṣṣarūnahum, yawaddu al-mujrimu law yaftadī min ʿadhābi yawmidhin bibānīhi
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, the criminals will be able to see the punishment awaiting them, and they will desperately wish to ransom themselves from that torment by sacrificing their own children. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this reflects the intensity of desperation on that Day—the bonds of worldly love and kinship become worthless in the face of eternal punishment. This ayah emphasizes that no amount of wealth, status, or even beloved family members can save one from divine justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'arij, a Meccan chapter describing the scenes of the Day of Judgment and the conditions of the righteous versus the wicked. It follows the narrative of souls ascending and the spiritual hierarchy of believers and disbelievers on that Day. The surah's context is to remind the early Meccan community of divine accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, a man will wish that everyone except his family had been punished instead of him' (related to themes in Sunan Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi regarding the Day of Judgment). Also relevant: 'Wealth and children are the adornments of this life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no earthly relationship or possession will avail us on the Day of Judgment; our only true security lies in righteous deeds and obedience to Allah during this lifetime. It serves as a powerful motivator to prioritize spiritual preparation and moral conduct over material pursuits and worldly attachments.