Surah Al-Mursalat 77:24
سُورَةُ المُرۡسَلَاتِ · Meccan · Verse 24 of 50
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Translation
Woe, on that Day, to those who denied the truth!
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse delivers a stark warning, a refrain woven through Surah al-Mursalat. It comes directly from Allah, addressing those who deny His truth, and its tone is one of severe rebuke and an inescapable warning of what awaits them on the Day of Judgment.
The Dire Warning
The core of this verse is the word "وَيْلٌ" (wayl), which is far more than a simple expression of sadness. It's a declaration of ruin, destruction, and intense suffering. As al-Muyassar clarifies, it signifies "هلاك وعذاب شديد" (destruction and severe punishment). This isn't a mere suggestion or a mild caution; it's a pronouncement of inevitable doom for those who persist in denial. The way it begins the sentence, as Mahmud Safi notes, adds a strong emphasis, reinforcing the gravity of the declaration.
On That Specific Day
The phrase "يَوْمَئِذٍ" (yawma'idhin), meaning "on that Day," pins this dire warning to a specific, future event: the Day of Judgment. It makes the threat precise and undeniable. The punishment isn't for some vague time; it's set for the Day when all will be accounted for, a day whose terror is often described in the Quran.
Who are the Deniers?
The warning is "لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ" (lil-mukadhdhibin), for the deniers or disbelievers. But what exactly are they denying? Imam al-Razi connects this directly to the verses just before it. Allah had just reminded humanity of their miraculous creation: "Did We not create you from a humble fluid, and then placed it in a secure lodging, until a known term? Then We proportioned it, and how excellent are We as proportioners!" (77:20-23). The deniers, therefore, are those who look at their own incredible creation – from a mere drop of fluid, nurtured in a secure place, perfectly designed and brought forth – and still deny Allah's immense power, His grace, and His ability to bring them back to life after death. To deny such clear signs of His artistry and blessings, al-Razi explains, makes their offense "uglier and more heinous," and thus the punishment "greater." This verse serves as a potent reminder for us to reflect deeply on Allah's evident power in our own existence, lest we, too, fall into the category of those who deny.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Mursalat 77:24 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.