مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌ يُخْزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ 40
Translations
To whom will come a torment disgracing him and on whom will descend an enduring punishment."
Transliteration
Man ya'tihi 'adhābun yukhzihi wa yaḥillu 'alayhi 'adhābun muqīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who reject Allah's signs and deny the Message—they will be overtaken by a punishment that brings them disgrace and humiliation in this world and the next, followed by an eternal and everlasting punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah addresses the disbelievers (kuffār) who stubbornly reject the truth despite clear evidence, and warns of both the shame of their rejection and the permanent torment awaiting them in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This ayah appears in a section (ayat 32-40) that contrasts the righteous who believe in Allah's unity with those who reject faith. The broader context discusses how some are guided to truth while others seal their hearts in disbelief, and this ayah serves as a warning of the consequences of persistent denial.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me' (Sahih Bukhari 5063), related thematically to the rejection of divine guidance. Also relevant: 'The worst punishment on the Day of Judgment will be for those who turned away from the signs of Allah' (referenced in various tafsir works on similar ayat of warning).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that rejecting divine guidance carries severe consequences both in this life (through disgrace and moral darkness) and eternally in the Hereafter. For believers, it reinforces the importance of steadfastness in faith and serving as a cautionary example of what befalls those who persistently turn away from truth.