فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ سَيُصِيبُهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ 51
Translations
And the evil consequences of what they earned struck them. And those who have wronged of these [people] will be struck [i.e., afflicted] by the evil consequences of what they earned; and they will not cause failure.
Transliteration
Fa-asabahum sayyiaat ma kasabu wa-alladhina dhalamoo min ha-ula-i sayusibuhum sayyiaat ma kasabu wa-ma hum bi-mu'jizin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the divine law of consequence: those who committed evil deeds faced the evil results of their actions, and similarly, the wrongdoers among the people addressed in this surah will inevitably face the consequences of their misdeeds without being able to escape Allah's justice. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this reflects Allah's immutable Sunnah (law) in creation—that deeds produce their corresponding consequences—and that no one can evade or overcome Allah's decree.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is Meccan and addresses the polytheists who rejected the message of tawhid (monotheism). This ayah appears in the context of reminding the Quraysh of past nations who were similarly punished for their wrongdoing, serving as a warning to contemporary disbelievers that the same fate awaits them if they persist in denial and transgression.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'No one of you will be saved by his deeds alone.' The Companions asked, 'Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'Not even me, unless Allah envelops me in mercy' (Sahih Bukhari 5673). This relates to the ayah's emphasis on divine justice and mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that moral and spiritual consequences are intrinsic to our actions—we cannot escape the results of our choices, and Allah's justice is certain and inescapable. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of righteous conduct and serves as a powerful deterrent against wrongdoing, whether secret or open.