وَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَا هَـٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ 20
Translations
They will say, "O woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense."
Transliteration
Wa qāloo yā waylana hādhā yawmu ad-dīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will cry out in despair, 'Woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah depicts the disbelievers' sudden realization and regret when they witness the reality of the Day of Judgment after denying it in the worldly life. Their exclamation reflects their shock and anguish at facing the consequences of their disbelief and rejection of the divine message.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan surah As-Saffat, which emphasizes the certainty of the Hereafter and Allah's perfect order. The context describes the scene on the Day of Judgment where disbelievers encounter the reality they once mocked, serving as a warning to those who reject the message in the present world.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worldly life compared to the Hereafter is like putting your finger in the ocean—see how much water clings to it' (Sahih Muslim 2858). This hadith emphasizes the insignificance of worldly concerns compared to the reality of the Day of Judgment mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a sobering reminder that denying the Day of Judgment in this life does not negate its reality; believers should use this as motivation to strengthen their faith and obedience to Allah before facing that inevitable day. The disbelievers' regret illustrates that repentance and belief must come while we still have the opportunity in this worldly life.