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
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْأَشْهَـٰدُ
Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand -
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.
إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَقَـٰرُونَ فَقَالُوا۟ سَـٰحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ
To Pharaoh, Hāmān and Qārūn, but they said, "[He is] a magician and a liar."
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَلَا ٱلْمُسِىٓءُ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
And not equal are the blind and the seeing, nor are those who believe and do righteous deeds and the evildoer. Little do you remember.