ءَآلْـَٔـٰنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ 91
Translations
Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters?
Transliteration
Aa-alāna wa-qad 'asayta qablu wa-kunta min-al-mufsidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's response to Pharaoh's sudden belief at the moment of drowning, expressing divine rebuke for his belated faith after a lifetime of disobedience and corruption. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah rejected Pharaoh's deathbed repentance because it was born of desperation rather than sincere conviction, and came only when the inevitable punishment was upon him. The ayah underscores the principle that sincere repentance must come before one faces certain doom, and that a lifetime of spreading corruption and rejecting divine signs cannot be erased by last-moment belief.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Surah Yunus recounting the story of Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh. It specifically addresses the moment when Pharaoh, drowning in the sea after pursuing the Israelites, suddenly declares belief in Allah (verse 10:90). The context reflects the broader Meccan theme of warning disbelievers about the consequences of obstinate rejection of truth and the futility of repentance when divine punishment becomes manifest.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that Allah accepts repentance as long as the soul has not reached the throat (i.e., before death becomes imminent). Additionally, Tirmidhi records that sincere repentance requires turning back to Allah before the 'Yaum ad-Din' (Day of Judgment) arrives.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine repentance must be sincere and timely—arising from true conviction rather than fear of imminent punishment—and that a lifetime of spreading corruption and rejecting guidance cannot be redeemed by deathbed profession of faith. For believers today, it serves as a powerful reminder to turn to Allah sincerely in life, not to delay repentance until circumstances force it upon us.