فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ 27
Translations
Then how [will it be] when the angels take them in death, striking their faces and their backs?
Transliteration
Fakayfa idha tawaffat-hum ul-mala'ikatu yadribun wujuha-hum wa-adbaraha-hum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the terrifying moment when the angels of death come to take the souls of disbelievers, striking their faces and backs as a sign of their disgrace and rejection by Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret the striking of faces and backs as a metaphorical expression of the angels' harshness and the shame that befalls those who rejected faith, emphasizing the severe punishment awaiting those who turn away from divine guidance. The ayah serves as a powerful warning about the reality of the afterlife for those who persist in disbelief.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad is a Medinan chapter that addresses both believers and disbelievers, emphasizing the consequences of following or rejecting the Prophet's message. This particular ayah appears in a passage warning disbelievers about their ultimate fate, contextualizing their rejection of Allah's signs and the Prophet's call to monotheism within the framework of inevitable divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When the soul is taken out (at death), the eyes follow it.' (Sahih Muslim 2451). Additionally, hadith literature emphasizes the terror of the grave and the questioning of angels Munkar and Nakir for those who die in disbelief, relating to the harsh treatment described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us of the certainty of death and accountability before Allah, urging believers to reflect on their choices and remain steadfast in faith, while warning against the spiritual blindness that leads one to reject divine truth. It emphasizes that no amount of worldly power or arrogance can protect one from the inevitable reckoning when the soul is taken by the angels.