أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى ٱلْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِى كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 58
Translations
Or [lest] it say when it sees the punishment, "If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good."
Transliteration
Aw taqool heen tara al-'adhaba law anna lee karrata fa-akoon mina al-muhsineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the regret and wishful thinking of the disbeliever when witnessing the punishment in the Hereafter, saying 'If only I had another chance, I would be among the righteous.' Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this regret comes too late, as the opportunity for action in the worldly life has already passed. The ayah highlights the futility of such wishes and underscores that repentance and good deeds must occur in this life, not after witnessing the divine punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zumar (The Troops), a Meccan surah focused on themes of monotheism, the resurrection, and the consequences of belief and disbelief. The broader context (39:47-60) describes the regrets of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, illustrating how they will desperately wish for another chance to act righteously in the worldly life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When the soul reaches the collarbone (at the time of death), the truly learned among you will say: If you could return, you would do righteous deeds' (Tirmidhi). This hadith reinforces the theme that opportunities are lost at death, not at the punishment of the Hereafter.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to seize the present moment and engage in righteous deeds now, rather than postponing repentance and good works, as regret expressed after death or in the Hereafter is meaningless. It serves as a powerful reminder that true change and improvement must happen in this worldly life while we still have the ability to act.