فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ 127
Translations
And they denied him, so indeed, they will be brought [for punishment],
Transliteration
Fa-kaththabuhu fa-innahum la-muhdarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the people of Elijah (Ilyas) who rejected him and his message, and consequently they will be brought forward for punishment on the Day of Judgment. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'muhdarun' (محضرون) means they will be presented and brought forth, emphasizing the certainty of their accountability before Allah. The rejection of the prophets and their messages carries grave consequences that extend into the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat's broader narrative of various prophets and their peoples' responses to the divine message. The context specifically addresses the rejection faced by Prophet Elijah (Ilyas), demonstrating a pattern throughout human history where communities have denied Allah's messengers. This Meccan surah was revealed to encourage the Prophet Muhammad and believers during early persecution.
Related Hadiths
The principle of accountability for rejecting messengers is supported in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) stated: 'By the One in whose hand is my soul, there is no one from this ummah, Jew or Christian, who hears of me and dies without believing in what I was sent with, except that he will be from the people of the Fire.' This emphasizes the serious consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
The rejection of Allah's messengers is not without consequence—those who turn away from divine guidance will face accountability before Allah on the Day of Judgment. This serves as a reminder for believers to accept and follow the guidance brought by the prophets, and as a warning against the arrogance of denying truth.