۞ وَعَنَتِ ٱلْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَىِّ ٱلْقَيُّومِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًا 111
Translations
And [all] faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. And he will have failed who carries injustice.
Transliteration
Wa 'anat al-wujuh lil-hayy al-qayyum, wa qad khaba man hamala zulman
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when all faces will be humbled and subdued before Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Ibn Kathir explains that 'anat (humbled/submissive) refers to the subjugation of all creation before the Divine presence, while the second clause asserts that whoever carries injustice will certainly fail and lose. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this humbling encompasses both the righteous and the wrongdoers, though its consequence differs—the righteous find honor in submission while the unjust face ruin.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Taha, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's majesty, the reality of the Day of Judgment, and warnings against disbelief and injustice. The surah's broader context discusses the accountability of all souls before Allah and the futility of worldly possessions and status on the Day of Reckoning.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever oppresses others in this life will be brought low before Allah on the Day of Judgment' (related concept in various hadith collections). Also relevant: 'Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1905).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all worldly power and status are ephemeral, and that true honor lies in humble submission to Allah. It serves as a stern warning against injustice and oppression, emphasizing that wrongdoing will inevitably lead to failure both in this life and the next.
Related Ayahs
وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَدْعُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَظَنُّوا۟ مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍ
And lost from them will be those they were invoking before, and they will be certain that they have no place of escape.
رَبَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise."
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ
To Him [alone] is attributed knowledge of the Hour. And fruits emerge not from their coverings nor does a female conceive or give birth except with His knowledge. And the Day He will call to them, "Where are My 'partners'?" they will say, "We announce to You that there is [no longer] among us any witness [to that]."
فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا
So Allāh will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness