ثُمَّ أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَىٰٓ 35
Translations
Then woe to you, and woe!
Transliteration
Thumma awlā laka fa-awlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, the final verse of Surah Al-Qiyamah, contains a repeated warning of doom and destruction directed at those who reject the message of the Quran and deny the Day of Judgment. The phrase 'awlā laka' (woe to you) is repeated for emphatic effect, emphasizing the severity of the consequences awaiting the deniers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a definitive declaration of disgrace and ruin for those who persist in disbelief, particularly the disbelievers of Mecca who mocked the Prophet Muhammad and rejected his warnings about resurrection.
Revelation Context
This concluding verse appears in the context of Surah Al-Qiyamah, which comprehensively addresses denial of the Resurrection and emphasizes Allah's power over all creation. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh actively rejected the concept of bodily resurrection, making this stern warning particularly relevant to their historical context of obstinate disbelief.
Related Hadiths
While no direct hadith specifically references this verse, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain multiple hadiths wherein the Prophet (ﷺ) warned the disbelievers of Mecca about the punishment awaiting them for their rejection of tawhid and denial of the afterlife. These warnings echo the sentiment of this final ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the ultimate accountability before Allah and the serious consequences of persistent denial and rejection of divine guidance. It serves as a powerful incentive for believers to remain steadfast in faith and to convey the message of Islam with urgency, knowing that those who turn away face inevitable disgrace.