إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَأْتِ رَبَّهُۥ مُجْرِمًا فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ 74
Translations
Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.
Transliteration
Innahu man ya'ti rabbahu mujriman fa'inna lahu jahannama la yamutu fiha wa la yahya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that whoever comes to their Lord as a criminal (one burdened with sin and disobedience) will be condemned to Hell, where they will experience a state of perpetual torment—neither dying to escape it nor living in any meaningful sense. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this describes the eternal punishment of those who meet Allah in a state of kufr (disbelief) or major sins without repentance, emphasizing both the severity of the punishment and the hopelessness of the condition. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ayah particularly addresses those who persist in shirk and transgression until they meet their Lord.
Revelation Context
Surah Ta-Ha is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Prophet faced intense opposition from the Quraysh. This ayah appears in the context of warnings to those who reject the message and persist in evil, serving as a general principle about accountability before Allah rather than being tied to a specific historical incident.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most merciful of you toward the people is the most merciful of you toward Allah on the Day of Judgment' (Tirmidhi). Related to this: 'Whoever meets Allah as a mushrik (polytheist), Allah will not forgive him' (Sahih Muslim 93), which speaks to meeting Allah in states of sin.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah underscores the urgency of sincere repentance in this life and the gravity of meeting Allah while burdened with unrepented sins; it serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual negligence has eternal consequences, motivating believers to continuously purify themselves and turn back to their Lord before it is too late.
Related Ayahs
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا ۖ وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَآ ۚ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
قُلْ تَرَبَّصُوا۟ فَإِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُتَرَبِّصِينَ
Say, "Wait, for indeed I am, with you, among the waiters."
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُوا۟ فِيهَا وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Every time they want to get out of it [i.e., Hellfire] from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!"
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ جَـٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَمَن يُجَـٰدِلُ ٱللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَم مَّن يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Here you are - those who argue on their behalf in [this] worldly life - but who will argue with Allāh for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will [then] be their representative?