Surah 69

Surah 69:25

"But as for the one who is given his book in his left (hand), he will say, ‘Would that I had not been given my book,"
The Bad Condition of Whoever is given His Record in His Left Hand Verses 69:25-37
Show Full Scripture Context (69:25-37) — 13 Verses
Verse 25

وَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِشِمَالِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي لَمۡ أُوتَ كِتَٰبِيَهۡ

But as for the one who is given his book in his left (hand), he will say, ‘Would that I had not been given my book,

Verse 26

وَلَمۡ أَدۡرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهۡ

and not known what my reckoning is!

Verse 27

يَٰلَيۡتَهَا كَانَتِ ٱلۡقَاضِيَةَ

Would that it had been the end!

Verse 28

مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنِّي مَالِيَهۡۜ

My wealth is of no use to me.

Verse 29

هَلَكَ عَنِّي سُلۡطَٰنِيَهۡ

My authority has perished from me.’

Verse 30

خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ

‘Seize him and bind him!

Verse 31

ثُمَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ

Then burn him in the Furnace,

Verse 32

ثُمَّ فِي سِلۡسِلَةٖ ذَرۡعُهَا سَبۡعُونَ ذِرَاعٗا فَٱسۡلُكُوهُ

(and) then put him in a chain of seventy cubits.

Verse 33

إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

Surely he never believed in God, the Almighty,

Verse 34

وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ

nor did he ever urge the feeding of the poor.

Verse 35

فَلَيۡسَ لَهُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ هَٰهُنَا حَمِيمٞ

So today he has no friend here,

Verse 36

وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنۡ غِسۡلِينٖ

nor any food except refuse,

Verse 37

لَّا يَأۡكُلُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡخَٰطِـُٔونَ

which only the sinners eat.’

These Ayat inform about the condition of the wretched people when one of them is given his Record (of deeds) in his left hand when the people are brought before Allah. At this time he will be very remorseful. ((He) will say: "I wish that I had not been given my Record! And that I had never known how my account is! Would that it had been my end!...") Ad-Dahhak said, "Meaning a death which is not followed by any life." Likewise said Muhammad bin Ka'b, Ar-Rabi' and As-Suddi. Qatadah said, "He will hope for death even though in the worldly life it was the most hated thing to him." (My wealth has not availed me; my power has gone from me.) means, 'my wealth and my honor did not protect me from the punishment of Allah and His torment. Now the matter has ended with me alone and I have no helper nor anyone to save me.' At this Allah says, (Seize him and fetter him; then throw him in the blazing Fire.) meaning, He will command the guardians of Hell to forcibly remove him from the gathering place, fetter him - meaning put iron collars on his neck - then carry him off to Hell and cast him into it, meaning they will submerge him in it. Allah said, (Then fasten him on a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!) Ka'b Al-Ahbar said, "Every ring of it will be equal to the entire amount of iron found in this world." Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Jurayj both said, "Each cubit will be the forearm's length of an angel." Ibn Jurayj reported that Ibn 'Abbas said, (Then fasten him) "It will be entered into his buttocks and pulled out of his mouth. Then they will be arranged on this (chain) just like locusts are arranged on a stick that is being roasted." Al-'Awfi reported from Ibn 'Abbas that he said, "It will be ran into his behind until it is brought out of his two nostrils so he will not be able to stand on his two feet." Imam Ahmad recorded from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Messenger of Allah said, "If a drop of lead like this - and he pointed to a skull bone - were sent from the heaven to the earth, and it is a distance of five hundred years travel, it would reach the earth before night. And if it (the same drop of lead) were sent from the head of the chain (of Hell), it would travel forty fall seasons, night and day, before it would reach its (Hell's) cavity or base." At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith and he said, "This Hadith is Hasan." Concerning Allah's statement, (Verily, he used not to believe in Allah, the Most Great, and urged not on the feeding of the poor.) meaning, he did not establish the right of Allah upon him, of obedience to Him and performing His worship. He also did not benefit Allah's creation nor did he give them their rights. For

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.