فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَـٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ 42
Translations
So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised -
Transliteration
Fa-dharhum yakhooḍoo wa yalʿaboo ḥattā yulāqoo yawmahumu alladhī yūʿadoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to leave the disbelievers to their frivolous pursuits and amusements until they meet the Day of Judgment that has been promised to them. Ibn Kathir explains that this is a directive to abandon trying to force belief upon those who reject the message, as their ultimate accountability rests with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Al-Tabari notes that the 'playing' and 'wading' (خَوْض) refers to their engagement in falsehood and denial, emphasizing that their temporary enjoyment will be met with inevitable divine justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'arij, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early persecution of Muslims. The broader context addresses the disbelievers' mockery and rejection of the message of resurrection and the Day of Judgment. This ayah comes after descriptions of the Day of Judgment and serves to console the Prophet regarding the rejection he faced, instructing him to remain patient while Allah deals with the deniers.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Surah Al-Furqan 25:44, where disbelievers are compared to livestock. Additionally, Tirmidhi and others record hadiths about the Prophet's patience with rejection, such as his instruction to leave those who mock the message to Allah's judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that those who reject divine truth will ultimately face accountability before Allah, and believers should not despair at others' mockery or rejection—rather, place trust in Allah's ultimate justice. It also reminds us that worldly amusement and heedlessness are temporary, and the real reckoning awaits all people.
Related Ayahs
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُوَلِّى بَعْضَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَعْضًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
And thus will We make some of the wrongdoers allies of others for what they used to earn.
فَإِن يَصْبِرُوا۟ فَٱلنَّارُ مَثْوًى لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَسْتَعْتِبُوا۟ فَمَا هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُعْتَبِينَ
So [even] if they are patient, the Fire is a residence for them; and if they ask to appease [Allāh], they will not be of those who are allowed to appease.
وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَٱدَّٰرَْٰٔتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allāh was to bring out that which you were concealing.
ثُمَّ ٱلْجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ
Then into Hellfire drive him.