فَإِنَّهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ 33
Translations
So indeed they, that Day, will be sharing in the punishment.
Transliteration
Fa-inna-hum yawma-idhin fi al-adhabi mushtarikun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that on the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers and those who followed them in misguidance will share equally in the punishment of Hell. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to both the leaders who misguided others and their followers who blindly obeyed them, emphasizing that all parties bear responsibility for their collective rejection of faith. The word 'mushtarikun' (sharing/partners) highlights the mutual culpability and common fate they will experience in divine punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat's discussion of the Day of Judgment and the fate of disbelievers. It follows the mention of those who associated partners with Allah and rejected the prophets' messages. The surah, revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message, repeatedly emphasizes the certainty of accountability and shared punishment for collective disbelief and transgression.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam bears the sin of it and the sins of all those who act upon it after him, without any decrease in their burden.' (Sahih Muslim 1017). This relates thematically to shared responsibility in wrongdoing. Additionally, the Quran states (9:67-68) that hypocritical men and women are of one another, and all will share punishment in Hell.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that both leaders of misguidance and their followers bear equal responsibility before Allah—there is no excuse of 'following orders' or 'being led astray.' For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of personal discernment, not blindly following leaders, and recognizing that we will answer individually for our choices on the Day of Judgment.