ٱلْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَآ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ 65
Translations
That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.
Transliteration
Al-yawma nakhtimu 'ala afwahihim wa tukallimund aydeehim wa tashadu arjuluhum bima kanu yaksibun
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will seal the mouths of the disbelievers so they cannot speak in their defense, while their own hands, feet, and bodies will testify against them regarding their deeds. Ibn Kathir explains this as a manifestation of divine justice—the very limbs that committed sins will bear witness against their owners, and they will be rendered unable to deny or refute this testimony, fulfilling the Quranic principle that nothing can be hidden from Allah's knowledge.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ya-Sin's description of the Day of Judgment and the fate of those who rejected Allah's signs. The broader context (36:59-83) details the separation of the righteous from the wicked and emphasizes the certainty of resurrection. This Meccan surah was revealed to strengthen the believers' faith in the Hereafter during a period when the polytheists of Mecca denied the resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, the thigh will speak and the leg will speak' (Tirmidhi, Hadith 3340). Additionally, the Quran mentions in 41:20-21 that disbelievers' skin and hearing will testify against them, reinforcing the concept of bodily testimony on the Last Day.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no deed goes unrecorded and that one cannot hide from divine justice—our own bodies will bear witness to our actions. It serves as a powerful incentive for believers to be mindful of their conduct in this life, knowing that accountability is inevitable and absolute.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ فَزِعُوا۟ فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُو قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا۟ بِهَا عِلْمًا أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Until, when they arrive [at the place of Judgement], He will say, "Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what [was it that] you were doing?"
ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ
Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allāh, our Lord, we were not those who associated."
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], "Did you disbelieve [i.e., reject faith] after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject."