ثُمَّ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓأَىٰٓ أَن كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ بِهَا يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ 10
Translations
Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allāh and used to ridicule them.
Transliteration
Thumma kana 'aqibatu alladhina asaa'u as-su'a an kadhdhabo bi-ayati Allahi wa kanu biha yastahzi'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inevitable consequence for those who commit evil (as'u as-su'a) - specifically, their rejection and mockery of Allah's signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that the ultimate punishment for those who deny and ridicule the verses of Allah is severe torment, with Al-Qurtubi noting that this verse establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between disbelief combined with ridicule and divine punishment. The ayah serves as a stark warning that mocking the divine message compounds the sin of disbelief itself.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rum was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh were actively rejecting the Prophet Muhammad's message and ridiculing the Quranic verses. This ayah specifically addresses the fate of those who not only deny Allah's signs but compound their rejection through mockery and scorn, establishing a thematic warning throughout the surah about the consequences of arrogance and disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever mocks something from the deen (religion), the punishment for that is clear.' (Related to the severity of ridiculing Islamic teachings). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari emphasizes that those who reject the signs of Allah and mock them face the worst of endings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that deliberate rejection of Allah's guidance, especially when accompanied by arrogance and mockery, carries grave consequences in both this life and the afterlife. For believers, it reinforces the importance of respecting divine revelation and treating the signs of Allah with reverence, while serving as a warning against spiritual carelessness.