وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 38
Translations
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths [that] Allāh will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know.
Transliteration
Wa-aqsamu billahi jahda aymanihim la yabʿathu allahu man yamut. Bala waʿdan ʿalayhi haqqa wa-lakin akthara al-nasi la yaʿlamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers swore by Allah with their strongest oaths that He would never resurrect the dead, yet Allah affirms that resurrection is a true promise and obligation upon Him, though most people lack knowledge of this reality. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this ayah directly refutes the Meccan polytheists' denial of the Day of Judgment and resurrection, emphasizing that their ignorance does not negate the certainty of Allah's promise. The phrase 'Bala' (indeed/nay) serves as a powerful divine correction to their false certainty, demonstrating that human oaths and denials cannot override divine truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the polytheists vehemently rejected the concept of resurrection and the Hereafter. The Quraysh particularly mocked this belief, as evidenced by their strong denials. This ayah addresses their obstinate rejection and reassures the believers of the absolute certainty of resurrection despite widespread disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The example of the Day of Judgment is like the example of a single hair on the body of one of you—it will come suddenly' (related to certainty of the Hour). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet ﷺ emphasized resurrection as one of the core beliefs distinguishing believers from disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that despite widespread denial or disbelief around us, the promises of Allah remain absolute and certain—our task is to believe and act accordingly, rather than being swayed by the majority's ignorance. The strength of human conviction in falsehood should never shake our certainty in divine truth.