فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـٰنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا ۖ سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ 85
Translations
But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all].
Transliteration
Falamma yaku yanfauhum eemānuhum lammā raʾaw baʾsanā sunnata Allāhi allatī qad khalat fī ʿibādihi wa khasira hunālika al-kāfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that faith becomes useless when punishment arrives, as those who rejected divine signs during their lifetime cannot benefit from believing only when facing Allah's torment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this illustrates the immutable Sunnah (law) of Allah—that belief after witnessing punishment is not accepted, as demonstrated throughout history with previous nations. The disbelievers lose completely at that moment, having forfeited their opportunity to believe willingly during the appointed term.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan Surah Ghafir, which emphasizes themes of divine forgiveness and warnings against rejection. It contextualizes the narrative of Pharaoh and his people within the broader Quranic theme that nations are given respite to believe, but when punishment comes, belief becomes futile—referencing the established pattern (Sunnah) throughout previous generations.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ stated that when the Hour approaches, faith will not benefit anyone who did not believe before, referencing the closing of the door of repentance. Additionally, Surah Al-An'am 6:158 presents a similar principle regarding belief at the time of the angel of death's arrival.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a solemn reminder that sincere belief and repentance must occur during one's lifetime while the opportunity exists, not when facing inevitable punishment. For modern believers, it underscores the urgency of genuine faith and reform in this present worldly life, as deathbeds and moments of crisis are too late for meaningful spiritual transformation.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَكْتُمُ إِيمَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلًا أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّىَ ٱللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَآءَكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَكُ كَـٰذِبًا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذِبُهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَكُ صَادِقًا يُصِبْكُم بَعْضُ ٱلَّذِى يَعِدُكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ
And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, "Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allāh' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allāh does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.
وَٱللَّهُ يَقْضِى بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَقْضُونَ بِشَىْءٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
And Allāh judges with truth, while those they invoke besides Him judge not with anything. Indeed, Allāh - He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَـٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمْ ۖ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍ جَبَّارٍ
Those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh without an authority having come to them - great is hatred [of them] in the sight of Allāh and in the sight of those who have believed. Thus does Allāh seal over every heart [belonging to] an arrogant tyrant.
رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ٱلَّتِى وَعَدتَّهُمْ وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.