وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 71
Translations
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word [i.e., decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers."
Transliteration
Wa sīqa alladhīna kafarū ilā jahannama zumaran, ḥattā idhā jāʾūhā ftuḥat abwābuhā wa qāla lahum khazanatuhā alam yaʾtikum rusulun minkum yatlūna ʿalaykum āyāti rabbikum wa yundhirūnakum liqāʾa yawmikum hādhā, qālū balā wa lākin ḥaqat kalimat alʿadhāb ʿalā alkāfirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers are driven in groups toward Hell, and upon arrival, the gatekeepers confront them asking whether messengers had come to them reciting the verses of their Lord and warning them of this very day. The disbelievers acknowledge that messengers indeed came to them, but the word of punishment has been justly decreed against them because they rejected the divine signs and warnings. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this conversation highlights the disbelievers' inexcusability—they cannot claim ignorance, as they were given clear guidance, making their rejection and consequent punishment a matter of justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan surah that extensively discusses the consequences of disbelief and the Day of Judgment. The surah's broader context addresses the themes of Divine unity, accountability before Allah, and the inevitability of the Hereafter, providing warnings to the polytheists of Mecca who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'No one will be punished with a punishment severer than deprivation of obedience' (related thematically in various hadith collections). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi: 'My mercy encompasses all things, but it is written that My punishment precedes My mercy,' highlighting that punishment comes only after rejection of guidance (Sahih Muslim 2751).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that ignorance of divine guidance is never a valid excuse on the Day of Judgment, as Allah sends messengers to all peoples. For modern readers, it emphasizes personal responsibility to seek, understand, and act upon the guidance available to us, knowing that we cannot feign ignorance before our Creator when called to account.