فَحَقَّ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلُ رَبِّنَآ ۖ إِنَّا لَذَآئِقُونَ 31
Translations
So the word [i.e., decree] of our Lord has come into effect upon us; indeed, we will taste [punishment].
Transliteration
Fahaqqa AAalayna qawlu rabbina inna lathaaiqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the inhabitants of Hell acknowledging that the word (decree) of their Lord regarding punishment has been fulfilled upon them. The phrase 'We shall surely taste' refers to their inevitable experience of the punishment promised to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents a moment of bitter realization where the deniers and disobedient finally accept the truth of Allah's warning that they rejected in the worldly life.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's vivid description of the Day of Judgment and the fate of the inhabitants of Hell. It comes within a passage where the people of Hell engage in dialogue, lamenting their choices and acknowledging the truth of Allah's promise that they dismissed during their earthly existence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The people of Hell will remain in Hell as long as the heavens and earth endure' (Sahih Muslim 2853). Additionally, the Quran states in Surah At-Taghabun (64:9): 'The Day He will gather you for the Day of Gathering - that is the Day of Deprivation,' which relates to this theme of inevitable accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's warnings are not empty threats but certain promises that will be fulfilled, serving as motivation to heed divine guidance in this life. It teaches that acknowledgment of truth in the afterlife comes too late for those who rejected it in the world, emphasizing the critical importance of accepting faith and obedience while opportunity remains.