Surah Fussilat 41:27
سُورَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ · Meccan · Verse 27 of 54
فَلَنُذِيقَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَسْوَأَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Translation
We shall certainly give the disbelievers a taste of severe punishment. We shall repay them according to their worst deeds-
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse comes as a stern response to those disbelievers who actively tried to obstruct the message of the Quran, instructing others, "Do not listen to this Quran and make noise during it so that you may overcome [its message]" (41:26). Here, Allah speaks directly, delivering a powerful warning about their inevitable recompense for this disbelief and obstruction.
The Certainty of Punishment
Allah begins by saying, فَلَنُذِيقَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًۭا ("So We will surely make those who disbelieved taste a severe torment"). The word choice here is profound. The Arabic word "fa" (فَ) at the beginning connects this promise directly to their previous actions. The double emphasis, using the letter "laam" (لَ) and the emphatic "noon" (نّ) at the end of "نُذِيقَنَّ", underscores an absolute, undeniable certainty of this divine promise. It is an oath from Allah, leaving no room for doubt.
The term "taste" (نُذِيقَنَّ) is particularly striking. As Imam al-Razi notes, "taste" often refers to experiencing something, even if in a small quantity, for the purpose of knowing it. If even a "taste" of this torment is described as "severe" (شَدِيدًۭا), it vividly paints a picture of its immense and overwhelming nature. It means they will personally and intimately experience the intensity of this punishment. Ibn Ashur also highlights this as a powerful metaphor for experiencing immense suffering.
Recompense for Deeds
The verse continues, وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَسْوَأَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ("and We will surely recompense them the worst of what they used to do"). Again, the emphatic "laam" and "noon" signify Allah's unwavering promise of recompense. The phrase أَسْوَأَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ, meaning "the worst of what they used to do," might seem to imply that only their very worst deeds are counted. However, scholars like Ibn Ashur explain that the term "أسوأ" (aswa', meaning "worst") here is used for intense exaggeration, signifying that their recompense will be exceedingly, profoundly bad, fitting the evil nature of their actions. It's not about singling out only their most heinous acts, but about the overwhelming badness of the punishment itself, which aligns with their disbelief and opposition. Another interpretation, offered by Imam al-Razi, is that because their good deeds are nullified by disbelief, only their evil deeds remain to be accounted for and recompensed.
Emphasizing the Reason
Notice the explicit mention of "ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟" (those who disbelieved) instead of a pronoun like "them." Ibn Ashur points out that this is a rhetorical choice to make explicit what could have been implied. By naming "those who disbelieved," Allah clearly emphasizes the *reason* for this severe torment and recompense: their very state of disbelief (kufr) is the cause. This linguistic precision underscores the direct consequence of their actions and their state of denial towards Allah's message.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Fussilat 41:27 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Fussilat 41:27 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.