وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ 27
Translations
And they will approach one another asking [i.e., blaming] each other.
Transliteration
Wa-aqbala ba'duhum 'ala ba'din yatasaa'alun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a scene on the Day of Judgment where the inhabitants of Hell turn toward one another, questioning and blaming each other for their fate. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this depicts the mutual recrimination among the people of the Fire, as they seek to understand how they arrived at this terrible state and attempt to deflect responsibility onto one another.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the midst of Surah As-Saffat's description of the Day of Judgment and the scenes of the afterlife. It is part of a broader Meccan surah that emphasizes the certainty of resurrection and the accountability of souls before Allah, serving as a warning to those who deny the Last Day.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) described scenes of the Day of Judgment in various hadiths; see Sahih Muslim 2844 regarding the gathering on the Day of Judgment where people will be questioned about their deeds. Additionally, Surah As-Saffat 37:27-30 contextually relates to hadiths about mutual blame in the Hereafter found in various hadith collections.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that on the Day of Judgment, no excuses, blaming others, or deflection will avail anyone—each soul will be held accountable for its own choices and deeds. It serves as a powerful deterrent against sin and a call to take responsibility for one's spiritual journey in this life.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ هُم بَـٰرِزُونَ ۖ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَىْءٌ ۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ
The Day they come forth nothing concerning them will be concealed from Allāh. To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allāh, the One, the Prevailing.
وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ
And has listened [i.e., responded] to its Lord and was obligated [to do so]
وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ
And when the mountains are blown away
وَجَآءَ رَبُّكَ وَٱلْمَلَكُ صَفًّا صَفًّا
And your Lord has come and the angels, rank upon rank,