إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنَادَوْنَ لَمَقْتُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ مِن مَّقْتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ إِذْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَتَكْفُرُونَ 10
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve will be addressed, "The hatred of Allāh for you was [even] greater than your hatred of yourselves [this Day in Hell] when you were invited to faith, but you disbelieved [i.e., refused]."
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo yunādawna lamaqta Allāhi akbaru min maqtikum anfusakum idh tudʿawna ilā al-īmāni fatakfurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers will be called out, and Allah will tell them that His hatred (maqt) for them is greater than their hatred for themselves during their worldly life when they rejected faith. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes the severity of Allah's displeasure with those who persistently rejected the divine message, contrasting the magnitude of divine rejection with their own self-loathing that will manifest on that day.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ghafir (a Meccan chapter revealed during the persecution of early Muslims), and falls within a section describing the scenes of the Day of Judgment. It addresses the fate of those who rejected the message despite being called to faith, serving as a warning to the polytheists of Mecca who turned away from Prophet Muhammad's preaching.
Related Hadiths
The concept of Allah's displeasure relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The most hated person to Allah is the most quarrelsome and the most abusive person' (Muslim 2855). Additionally, the theme connects to Surah Al-Fath 48:6 regarding Allah's anger toward the disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a profound reminder that rejecting divine guidance carries immense spiritual consequences far greater than any temporary worldly benefit. Believers should recognize the gravity of disbelief and embrace faith sincerely, understanding that Allah's judgment is absolute and His displeasure with persistent rejection is far more severe than one can imagine.