فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ 86
Translations
Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
Transliteration
Falawla in kuntum ghayra maddīnīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical challenge to those who deny the Day of Judgment, asking: 'Why then, if you are not to be judged (on the Day of Resurrection), do you not bring back the soul when it reaches the throat?' (56:87 provides the complete context). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes human helplessness in the face of death and the inevitability of divine judgment, refuting the disbelievers' denial of accountability in the afterlife. The rhetorical question serves as a powerful argument for the necessity of belief in resurrection and divine justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Waqi'ah is a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when disbelievers in Mecca rejected the concept of resurrection and divine accountability. This ayah appears in a section (56:83-96) that directly challenges the deniers of the Hereafter by pointing to observable natural phenomena—specifically the reality of death—as irrefutable proof of Allah's power and the certainty of resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sign of a believer is the love of Allah and His Messenger, and the greatest sign of a hypocrite is the denial of the Day of Judgment' (Tirmidhi). This relates to the surah's central theme of accountability before Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that death is an undeniable reality that should prompt reflection on our accountability before Allah; denying the Hereafter does not negate its occurrence, and we must prepare for the Day of Judgment through righteous deeds and sincere faith.