وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوْجًا مِّمَّن يُكَذِّبُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ 83
Translations
And [warn of] the Day when We will gather from every nation a company of those who deny Our signs, and they will be [driven] in rows
Transliteration
Wa yawma nahshuru min kulli ummatin fawjan mimman yukazziba bi-ayatina fa-hum yuwaza'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when Allah will gather from each nation a contingent of those who denied His signs, and they will be driven forward in orderly groups. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as depicting how the deniers will be separated and herded together, with 'yuwaza'un' (they are restrained/driven along) emphasizing their helplessness and lack of control on that Day. The ayah underscores both the certainty of accountability for rejecting divine guidance and the organized, orderly nature of divine justice.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Naml is a Meccan surah primarily addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected the Qur'an and the Prophet's message. This ayah fits within the broader thematic context of the surah, which repeatedly emphasizes signs of Allah's power and the consequences of denial, serving as a warning to those contemporary to the revelation who stubbornly rejected the message.
Related Hadiths
The description of Yawm al-Qiyamah in this ayah relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) described how people will be gathered on the Day of Judgment. Additionally, Surah Al-Hajj 22:5 and related ahadith in Sahih Muslim elaborate on the resurrection and gathering of mankind.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejection of Allah's clear signs carries inescapable consequences in the Hereafter, while also providing reassurance that Allah's justice is perfectly organized and inescapable—no denier will escape accountability. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of accepting divine guidance while it is available and recognizing that every choice regarding faith has eternal ramifications.