فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنَ شِيبًا 17
Translations
Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white-haired?
Transliteration
Fakayfa tattaqoon in kafartum yawman yaj'alul-wildana shiba
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a powerful rhetorical question addressing the disbelievers, asking how they can possibly guard themselves or find protection on a Day so terrifying that it will turn the children's hair white from fear and distress. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a reference to the Day of Judgment, emphasizing the unprecedented severity and horror of that day—so intense that even the young will age prematurely from terror. The ayah serves as a stark warning about the consequences of disbelief and the inevitability of divine accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the final portion of Surah Al-Muzzammil, which was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period. The surah addresses themes of night prayer, patience, and warning to disbelievers. This particular ayah contextually follows warnings about the punishment awaiting those who reject faith and the certainty of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing the urgency of belief and righteous action before it is too late.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Day of Judgment will not be established until the sun rises from the west' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, various hadiths in Sahih Muslim describe the terrors of the Day of Judgment and the conditions people will face, reinforcing the Quranic theme of divine accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the ultimate reality of the Hereafter and serves as a powerful motivator for righteous conduct and sincere faith. For modern readers, it emphasizes that true protection comes not from worldly means, but from consciousness of Allah and obedience to His guidance before the Day when no amount of preparation will avail the disbelievers.
Related Ayahs
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱبْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِى رَحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But as for those whose faces turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allāh. They will abide therein eternally.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَرِنَا ٱلَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ
And those who disbelieved will [then] say, "Our Lord, show us those who misled us of the jinn and men [so] we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest."
مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
The word [i.e., decree] will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."