يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَ 43
Translations
The Day they will emerge from the graves rapidly as if they were, toward an erected idol, hastening.
Transliteration
Yawma yakhrajūna mina al-ajdāth sirā'an ka-annahum ilā nusub yūfidūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Resurrection when people will emerge from their graves hastily, rushing forth like they are hurrying toward idols (nusub) or raised monuments. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as depicting the panic and urgency of the resurrection, where people flee their graves in haste—some out of fear, others in desperation. The comparison to rushing toward idols emphasizes the chaotic nature of that day and the loss of rationality that will grip humanity as they face the reality they once denied.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of the Prophet Muhammad's mission, focusing on the realities of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. This ayah appears within the broader context of vivid descriptions of the Last Day meant to warn the Meccan disbelievers and reinforce belief in the Hereafter among the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Day of Judgment will not come until the sun rises from the west. When it does, the people will believe—but that is when no soul will benefit from its belief if it had not believed before.' (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim) - This hadith complements the urgency and panic described in this ayah about the Resurrection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This vivid imagery reminds us of the certainty and urgency of the Day of Judgment, encouraging believers to repent and prepare spiritually in this life rather than live in heedlessness. The desperate haste described should inspire us to reflect on our mortality and align our actions with eternal values rather than temporal pursuits.