Surah Yunus 10:96
سُورَةُ يُونُسَ · Meccan · Verse 96 of 109
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Translation
Those against whom your Lord’s sentence is passed will not believe,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wisdom
This profound verse from Surah Yunus, where Allah Himself is speaking, addresses a specific, sorrowful truth about certain individuals. It tells us, "Indeed, those upon whom the word of your Lord has come true will not believe." This refers to those who have persistently and willfully rejected the truth, despite clear signs, to the point that Allah's decree for their disbelief has become fixed. It's a statement about the consequences of persistent human choice.
The Weight of Choice
When the verse speaks of "the word of your Lord has come true" (حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ), it's not about an arbitrary judgment from Allah. Rather, as scholars like al-Saadi and al-Munir explain, it signifies a consequence of their own actions. These are people who, by their repeated and stubborn rejection of truth, have "wronged themselves," as al-Saadi puts it. They have chosen a path of such deep-seated heedlessness and disobedience that it has led them away from Allah's mercy. Mufti Shafi highlights this as a warning against such heedlessness. It teaches us that our choices, especially in matters of faith and truth, have profound and lasting implications on our spiritual state.
The Hardened Heart
For these individuals, their hearts have become so closed off that they will not believe "even if every sign came to them" (وَلَوْ جاءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ آيَةٍ), as al-Munir emphasizes. They've lost their "readiness for faith." Imagine someone who keeps ignoring advice, dismissing every piece of evidence, until they can no longer even perceive the truth that is right in front of them. The verse warns us about how a heart can become so hardened through continuous denial that it becomes impervious to guidance, no matter how clear.
A Point of No Return
The ultimate, painful lesson is that there comes a point for such people where their "faith" will only surface when they "see the painful punishment." But then, it will be too late, and their belief will offer no benefit, just as it did not benefit Pharaoh at the moment of his drowning. This isn't Allah preventing them from belief; it is the natural, inevitable outcome of their sustained, deliberate rejection of all opportunities for guidance. This stark reality serves as a poignant reminder for us all: to remain open to truth, to continually reflect on Allah's signs, and to never let our hearts become so heedless that we reach such a point of no return.
Sources: al-Qurtubi (al-Jami li-Ahkam), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Saadi (Taysir al-Karim), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Yunus 10:96 is discussed in 3 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Yunus 10:96 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.