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Ayah
Word by Word
إِنَّ
Indeed
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
كَفَرُواْ
disbelieve[d]
وَمَاتُواْ
and die[d]
وَهُمۡ
while they
كُفَّارٌ
(were) disbelievers
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ
those
عَلَيۡهِمۡ
on them
لَعۡنَةُ
(is the) curse
ٱللَّهِ
(of) Allah
وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ
and the Angels
وَٱلنَّاسِ
and the mankind
أَجۡمَعِينَ
all together
إِنَّ
Indeed
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
كَفَرُواْ
disbelieve[d]
وَمَاتُواْ
and die[d]
وَهُمۡ
while they
كُفَّارٌ
(were) disbelievers
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ
those
عَلَيۡهِمۡ
on them
لَعۡنَةُ
(is the) curse
ٱللَّهِ
(of) Allah
وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ
and the Angels
وَٱلنَّاسِ
and the mankind
أَجۡمَعِينَ
all together
Translation
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allāh and of the angels and the people, all together,
Tafsir
But those who disbelieve, and die disbelieving (wa-hum kuffaar, 'they being disbelievers', is a circumstantial qualifier) - upon them shall be the curse of God and the angels, and of people altogether, that is, they deserve such [a curse] in this life and in the next; 'people' here is said to be either [people] in general, or believers.
"The Eternal Curse for Those Who hide Religious Commandments
Allah says;
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَـيِكَ يَلعَنُهُمُ اللّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّعِنُونَ
Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the People in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers.
These Ayat sternly warn against those who hide the clear signs that the Messengers were sent with which guide to the correct path and beneficial guidance for the hearts, after Allah has made such aspects clear for His servants through the Books that He revealed to His Messengers.
Abu Al-Aliyah said that these Ayat,
""were revealed about the People of the Scripture who hid the description of Muhammad.""
Allah then states that everything curses such people for this evil act. Certainly, just as everything asks for forgiveness for the scholar, even the fish in the sea and the bird in the air, then those who hide knowledge are cursed by Allah and by the cursers.
A Hadith in the Musnad, narrated through several chains of narrators, that strengthens the overall judgment of the Hadith, states that Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
مَنْ سُيِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَار
Whoever was asked about knowledge that one has, but he hid it, then a bridle made of fire will be tied around his mouth on the Day of Resurrection.
It is also recorded by Al-Bukhari that Abu Hurayrah said,
""If it was not for an Ayah in Allah's Book, I would not have narrated a Hadith for anyone:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى
(Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down),""
Mujahid said,
""When the earth is struck by drought, the animals say, `This is because of the sinners among the Children of Adam. May Allah curse the sinners among the Children of Adam.""'
Abu Al-Aliyah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Qatadah said that
وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّعِنُونَ
(and cursed by the cursers) means that;
the angels and the believers will curse them.
Moreover, a Hadith states that;
everything, including the fish in the sea, asks for forgiveness for the scholars.
The Ayah (2:159 above) states that;
those who hide the knowledge will be cursed, (in this life and) on the Day of Resurrection, by Allah, the angels, all humanity, and those who curse (including the animals) each in its own distinct way.
Allah knows best.
From this punishment, Allah excluded all who repent to Him.
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصْلَحُواْ وَبَيَّنُواْ
Except those who repent and do righteous deeds, and openly declare (the truth which they concealed).
This Ayah refers to those who regret what they have been doing and correct their behavior and, thus, explain to the people what they have been hiding.
فَأُوْلَـيِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
These, I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.
This Ayah also indicates that those who used to call to innovation, or even disbelief, and repent to Allah, then Allah will forgive them.
Allah afterwards states that
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ
Verily, those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers,
then:
أُولَيِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللّهِ وَالْمَليِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا
it is they on whom is the curse of Allah and of the angels and of mankind, combined. They will abide therein (under the curse in Hell).
Therefore, they will suffer the eternal curse until the Day of Resurrection and after that in the fire of Jahannam,
where,
لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ
their punishment will neither be lightened,
Hence, the torment will not be decreased for them,
وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
nor will they be reprieved.
The torment will not be changed or tempered for even an hour. Rather, it is continuous and eternal. We seek refuge with Allah from this evil end.
Cursing the Disbelievers is allowed
There is no disagreement that it is lawful to curse the disbelievers.
Umar bin Al-Khattab and the Imams after him used to curse the disbelievers in their Qunut (a type of supplication) during the prayer and otherwise.
As for cursing a specific disbeliever, some scholars stated that;
it is not allowed to curse him, because we do not know how Allah will make his end.
Others said that;
it is allowed to curse individual disbelievers. For proof, they mention the story about the man who was brought to be punished repeatedly for drinking (alcohol), a man said, ""May Allah curse him! He is being brought repeatedly (to be flogged for drinking).""
Allah's Messenger said:
لَاا تَلْعَنْهُ فَإِنَّه يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَه
Do not curse him, for he loves Allah and His Messenger.
This Hadith indicates that it is allowed to curse those who do not love Allah and His Messenger.
Allah knows best.
Allah says;
وَإِلَـهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لاَّ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ
And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God ـ Allah), La ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
In this Ayah, Allah mentions that He is the only deity, and that He has no partners or equals. He is Allah, the One and Only, the Sustainer, and there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. He is the Most Gracious ـ Ar-Rahman, the Most Merciful ـ Ar-Rahim.
We explained the meanings of these two Names in the beginning of Surah Al-Fatihah.
Shahr bin Hawshab reported that Asma' bint Yazid bin As-Sakan narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
اسْمُ اللهِ الاَْعْظَمُ فِي هَاتَيْنِ الاايَتَيْنِ
Allah's Greatest Name is contained in these two Ayat:
وَإِلَـهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لاَّ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ
And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God ـ Allah), La ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
and:
الم
اللّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
Alif-Lam-Mim. Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Haiyul-Qaiyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists)."" (3:1-2)"
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