قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا وَكُنَّا قَوْمًا ضَآلِّينَ 106
Translations
They will say, "Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray.
Transliteration
Qalū rabbană ghalabat 'alaynā shiqwatunā wa kunnā qawman dāllīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The inhabitants of Hell confess to their Lord that wretchedness and misery have overwhelmed them, and they acknowledge that they were a people who were astray and misguided in their earthly lives. Ibn Kathir explains that this statement reflects the believers' recognition of their own culpability and their abandonment of divine guidance, while Al-Tabari notes that 'shiqwah' (wretchedness/misery) refers to the state of being forsaken by God's mercy due to their own choices and rebellion.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun's description of the Day of Judgment and the conditions of the inhabitants of Hell. It is part of a broader Meccan narrative emphasizing accountability in the Hereafter and the consequences of disbelief and misguidance during one's earthly life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every soul will taste death, and then to Us will you be returned' (Quran 29:57). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned about following desires and abandoning guidance, which directly relates to the 'dalal' (misguidance) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that ultimate regret comes only after it is too late to change one's path; therefore, believers should seek guidance and righteousness in this life before facing the reality of their choices in the Hereafter. It serves as a profound reminder that misguidance is often self-inflicted through rejection of truth, making sincere repentance and adherence to faith essential while time remains.
Related Ayahs
أَفَبِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ
And that his effort is going to be seen -
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـٰعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَمَرْتَنِى بِهِۦٓ أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۚ وَكُنتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِى كُنتَ أَنتَ ٱلرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.