۞ وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ 5
Translations
And if you are astonished, [O Muḥammad] - then astonishing is their saying, "When we are dust, will we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?" Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord, and those will have shackles upon their necks, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
Transliteration
Wa-in ta'jab fa-'ajabun qawluhum a-idha kunna turaban a-inna lafi khalqin jadid. Ula'ika alladhina kafarû birabbihim wa-ula'ika al-aghläl fi a'näqihim wa-ula'ika ashäb al-när hum fiha khälidün.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the disbelievers' amazement and denial of resurrection after death, when they will become dust. The Quran rhetorically asks the Prophet (ﷺ) to marvel at their arrogance in rejecting Allah's power to resurrect them in a new creation. Ibn Kathir explains that their denial of resurrection is rooted in their rejection of Allah's lordship, and consequently, they will be bound with chains around their necks in Hellfire, eternally dwelling therein as punishment for their kufr.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Ra'd's broader discussion of resurrection and the consequences of disbelief. The surah was revealed in Medina during a period when the Meccan disbelievers persistently denied the possibility of resurrection. The ayah directly addresses the psychological incredulity of the polytheists who found the concept of being recreated from dust impossible.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, and to kill one's parents' and regarding denial of resurrection, 'Whoever denies the Day of Judgment has surely disbelieved' (related in various hadith collections). Also relevant is the hadith about the Day of Judgment emphasizing resurrection: 'The Hour will not be established until...' (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that rejecting Allah's power to resurrect us is a fundamental form of disbelief, and should humble us to recognize our complete dependence on Allah's will and power. The vivid imagery of chains around the necks of the disbelievers reminds us that denial of truth in this life leads to bondage and loss of freedom in the Afterlife, encouraging us to embrace faith and gratitude while we have the opportunity.