أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمْ أَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ 87
Translations
Those - their recompense will be that upon them is the curse of Allāh and the angels and the people, all together,
Transliteration
Ulā'ika jazā'uhum anna 'alayhim la'natu Allāhi wa-al-malā'ikati wa-al-nāsi ajma'īn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the punishment of those who reject faith and turn away from guidance after understanding it: they will be cursed by Allah, His angels, and all of mankind. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this curse (la'nah) represents divine rejection and expulsion from mercy, and is a comprehensive punishment involving condemnation from all levels of creation. The inclusion of the angels and all people emphasizes the universal nature of their disgrace and the severity of their fate.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of those who reject Allah's signs and turn back from faith despite clear knowledge. The broader passage (3:86-88) addresses the specific case of those who believe and then disbelieve, describing their irreversible punishment. This reflects the Medinan period's engagement with those in the Muslim community and surrounding populations who rejected Islamic teachings.
Related Hadiths
The concept of la'nah (curse) is referenced in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding those who turn away from guidance. Hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi states that the Messenger ﷺ said cursing is a severe matter, reinforcing the gravity of this divine punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a stern warning about the consequences of knowingly rejecting divine guidance and reflects the importance of firm commitment to faith once understood. For believers, it underscores the gravity of apostasy and the need to protect one's deen (religion) with sincerity and steadfastness.
Related Ayahs
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allāh. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.
لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ
Not for you, [O Muḥammad, but for Allāh], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.
يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
He selects for His mercy whom He wills. And Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining.