إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ 34
Translations
Indeed, that is how We deal with the criminals.
Transliteration
Inna kadhalika nafAAalu bialmujourimeena
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah deals with criminals and wrongdoers in this manner—with punishment and humiliation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse refers to the fate of the disbelievers and transgressors who reject Allah's signs, emphasizing that Divine punishment is a consistent law applied to all who commit crimes against Allah and His creation. The phrase 'kadhalika' (thus/in this manner) connects to the preceding narrative about the fate of those who denied the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat, which is a Meccan surah primarily concerned with refuting polytheism and affirming Allah's oneness and justice. The broader context discusses the punishment awaiting those who reject faith and commit transgressions, serving as a warning to the Meccan disbelievers during the early Islamic period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent,' (Sahih Bukhari 6018), emphasizing the accountability of wrongdoers. Also relevant is the hadith: 'The curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers,' (Sunan Ibn Majah), which relates to Divine punishment for criminals.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that wrongdoing and rejection of truth carry inevitable consequences in the sight of Allah, serving as a deterrent against crime and transgression. It encourages believers to uphold justice and morality, knowing that Allah's punishment for criminals is certain and consistent.
Related Ayahs
كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ ۙ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them. They disbelieved in the signs of Allāh, so Allāh seized them for their sins. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and severe in penalty.
فَأَخْرَجْنَا مَن كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
So We brought out whoever was in them [i.e., the cities] of the believers.
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.