وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ 40
Translations
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
Transliteration
Waylun yawma'idhin lilmukadhdhileen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah pronounces a severe warning of destruction and ruin upon those who reject the divine message on the Day of Judgment. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'Waylun' (woe/destruction) emphasizes the inevitable punishment awaiting the disbelievers, serving as a forceful conclusion to the surah's repeated refrain warning against denial of Allah's signs and resurrection.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Mursalat is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Prophet Muhammad's mission when he faced intense rejection from the Quraysh. This final ayah encapsulates the surah's overarching theme, which repeatedly warns the deniers with the refrain 'Woe that Day to the deniers' (appearing 10 times throughout), emphasizing the certainty of accountability for those who reject the message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever hears about the Dajjal and disbelieves in him, Allah will save him from his tribulation.' (Sunan Ibn Majah) - thematically related to the consequences of disbelief. Also relevant is the general hadith on the Day of Judgment's horrors in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejection of divine truth carries grave spiritual consequences, while inspiring steadfastness in faith despite worldly opposition. For modern readers, it serves as a sobering reminder of accountability and the importance of sincere reflection on divine signs rather than obstinate denial.
Related Ayahs
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّمَا تَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَعْوَةٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ مَرَدَّنَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ
Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no [response to a] supplication in this world or in the Hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allāh, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن جَآءَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنْ عِندِهِۦ وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And Moses said, "My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed."
فَٱعْبُدُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
So worship what you will besides Him." Say, "Indeed, the losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, that is the manifest loss."
يَدْعُوا۟ لَمَن ضَرُّهُۥٓ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِۦ ۚ لَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْعَشِيرُ
He invokes one whose harm is closer than his benefit - how wretched the protector and how wretched the associate.