قَالُوا۟ بَل لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ 29
Translations
They [i.e., the oppressors] will say, "Rather, you [yourselves] were not believers,
Transliteration
Qalu bal lam takunu mu'minin
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers respond to the believers' accusations by denying that they themselves were ever believers, claiming they never truly accepted faith in Allah and His messengers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the disbelievers' desperate attempt to shift blame and deny responsibility for their rejection of guidance, even as they stand before Allah on the Day of Judgment. This ayah illustrates how those who rejected faith will make excuses and deny their culpability, having been clearly warned during their lifetime.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah As-Saffat, which describes scenes from the Day of Judgment. Verse 29 is part of a dialogue between the people of Paradise and the people of Hell, where the blessed address the damned, and the damned respond with denials and excuses. The broader thematic context involves accountability before Allah and the consequences of disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (narrated by Abu Hurairah) describes the Day of Judgment when people will seek intercession, reflecting the themes of accountability and excuses made on that Day. Additionally, Surah An-Nahl 16:83 and related hadiths discuss how disbelievers attribute their disbelief to ignorance rather than willful rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that on the Day of Judgment, excuses and denials will be of no avail; we are accountable for our choices in this life. It serves as a warning to accept guidance and faith sincerely while we have the opportunity, for there will be no escape from responsibility before Allah's perfect justice.