يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَأَوْرَدَهُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْوِرْدُ ٱلْمَوْرُودُ 98
Translations
He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection and lead them into the Fire; and wretched is the place to which they are led.
Transliteration
Yaqdumu qawmahu yawma al-qiyamati fa-awradahumu al-naru wa-bi'sa al-wirdu al-mawordu
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Pharaoh will lead his people into the Fire on the Day of Judgment, having misguided them in worldly life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that leaders who mislead their followers bear the burden of their followers' sins alongside their own, and the phrase 'wabi'sa al-wirdu al-mawordu' (what an evil destination) underscores the severe punishment awaiting them. This ayah illustrates the grave responsibility of leadership and the ultimate consequence of kufr (disbelief) and tyranny.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh in Surah Hud, which was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh were intensifying persecution of Muslims. The ayah serves as a warning to those who follow tyrants and leaders who reject divine guidance, emphasizing that no worldly power can protect one from divine judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and the worst of leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you.' (Sahih Muslim 1855). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding those who follow the way of Pharaoh: 'Whoever imitates a people is one of them' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4031) relates to the fate of those who follow tyrants.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that leaders will be held accountable for misleading their followers, and that blindly following tyrants or corrupt leaders will result in shared punishment on the Day of Judgment. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of choosing righteous leadership and not being swayed by worldly power or false promises.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّهُۥ عَلَيْكَ ۖ مِنْهَا قَآئِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ
That is from the news of the cities, which We relate to you; of them, some are [still] standing and some are [as] a harvest [mowed down].
وَقِيلَ يَـٰٓأَرْضُ ٱبْلَعِى مَآءَكِ وَيَـٰسَمَآءُ أَقْلِعِى وَغِيضَ ٱلْمَآءُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ وَٱسْتَوَتْ عَلَى ٱلْجُودِىِّ ۖ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And it was said, "O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]." And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and it [i.e., the ship] came to rest on the [mountain of] Jūdiyy. And it was said, "Away with the wrongdoing people."
إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ ۚ وَلِذَٰلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ ۗ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them. But the word of your Lord is to be fulfilled that, "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together."
وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ ٱلْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُۥ فَٱعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth and to Him will be returned the matter, all of it, so worship Him and rely upon Him. And your Lord is not unaware of that which you do.