فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشْرِكِينَ 84
Translations
And when they saw Our punishment, they said, "We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him."
Transliteration
Falamma ra'aw ba'snā qālū āmannā billāhi waḥdahu wa kafarnā bimā kunnā bihi mushrikīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when Pharaoh and his people, witnessing Allah's punishment (the drowning), suddenly proclaimed faith in Allah alone and rejected their former polytheism. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this deathbed repentance was rejected because it came only out of fear of imminent death, not from sincere hearts, as evidenced by the Quranic principle that faith must precede the arrival of punishment. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that their declaration, though verbally correct, lacked the genuine conviction required for acceptance, demonstrating that timely repentance during life is far more valuable than desperate recognition of truth in the face of destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Pharaoh (Fir'awn) in Surah Ghafir, which details his rejection of Prophet Musa's message and his ultimate drowning in the sea. The context reflects the broader Meccan theme of warning disbelievers of consequences for rejecting divine guidance, and this specific verse illustrates the futility of repentance when divine punishment has already been decreed and death is imminent.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2703) regarding the seven categories of people shaded under Allah's throne on the Day of Judgment relates thematically—emphasizing that sincere repentance and faith must come before one's final hour. Additionally, the principle from various hadith collections about accepting repentance only before the soul reaches the throat (at the point of death) directly applies to this ayah's lesson.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere repentance and acceptance of faith must come during one's lifetime and from genuine conviction, not as a desperate reaction to impending destruction. It serves as a powerful reminder that believers should turn to Allah immediately upon understanding His message, rather than delaying until circumstances force acknowledgment when it is too late for salvation.