أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَىٰ 34
Translations
Woe to you, and woe!
Transliteration
Awlā laka fa-awlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains a severe warning and threat, with Allah repeating 'woe to you' (awlā laka) twice for emphasis, indicating increasing severity of punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah's denunciation of the disbeliever who denies the Day of Judgment and turns away from faith, with the repetition conveying the magnitude of divine displeasure and the inevitable consequences awaiting the denier of resurrection.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qiyamah, which focuses on the reality and inevitability of the Day of Resurrection. It specifically addresses those who deny the resurrection and turn away from the signs of Allah, rejecting the message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah was revealed in Mecca during the period of intense opposition to Islamic monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Woe to those who lie, for they narrate things they have not seen and claim knowledge they do not possess.' (Related to the theme of denial and falsehood) - Jami' at-Tirmidhi. Additionally, Surah Al-Qiyamah's themes relate to hadiths about the Day of Judgment emphasizing accountability for one's deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that persistent denial of divine truth and the Hereafter carries severe consequences, urging believers to remain steadfast in faith and to reflect on the certainty of the Day of Judgment. For modern readers, it emphasizes that indifference or rejection of accountability before Allah is the gravest spiritual danger one can face.