وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ 9
Translations
And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left?
Transliteration
Wa ashabu al-mashʼamati ma ashabu al-mashʼamati
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Companions of the Left Hand, those destined for Hell on the Day of Judgment, and the rhetorical question emphasizes their wretched fate and the severity of their condition. The repetition of the phrase serves as a powerful rhetorical device to draw attention to their misery and to emphasize that words cannot adequately describe the horror of their punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah's way of expressing the inexpressible nature of the torment awaiting those who reject faith and guidance.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Waqi'ah was revealed in Mecca and describes the events and divisions of humanity on the Day of Judgment. This ayah appears within the context of Surah 56's vivid depiction of three categories of people in the afterlife: the foremost (al-sabiqun), the Companions of the Right Hand (ashab al-yameen), and the Companions of the Left Hand (ashab al-mashʼamah), establishing the certainty of the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'There is no one among you but Allah will make him speak with his Lord on the Day of Resurrection, there being no interpreter between them and him' (Sahih Bukhari 6541). This relates to the accountability of all souls on that Day, whether among the blessed or the punished.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate consequences of rejecting faith and guidance, urging believers to reflect on their actions in this life. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of conscious moral and spiritual choices, knowing that deeds have eternal consequences beyond this temporal existence.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَعِلْمٌ لِّلسَّاعَةِ فَلَا تَمْتَرُنَّ بِهَا وَٱتَّبِعُونِ ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
And indeed, he [i.e., Jesus] will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ
When the two receivers [i.e., recording angels] receive, seated on the right and on the left.
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ
The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children