83:29 Verily, those who were guilty used to laugh at those who believed.
83:30 And when they passed by them, they would wink at one another.
83:31 And when then returned to their people, they would return jesting.
83:32 And when they saw them, they would say, ‘Indeed, those are truly astray.’
83:33 Yet they were not sent as watchers over them.
83:34 So today, those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers,
83:35 on couches, gazing.
83:36 Have the disbelievers not been recompensed for what they used to do?
Relationship with the Previous Part
The previous parts speak about the wicked and the righteous, referring to the evil end of the wicked and the happy end of the righteous. Then this part mentions that the disbelievers used to ridicule the believers in worldly life. Their recompense will be that the believers will ridicule them in the Hereafter, which is fitting recompense for their wickedness. The intended meaning is to console the believers and strengthen their hearts.
Tafsir
83:29 Verily, those who were guilty used to laugh at those who believed.
The ayah mentions an example of the wicked deeds that the disbelievers used to do against the believers in the worldly life. The disbelievers such as abu Jahl bin Hisham and al-A bin Wa’l used to ridicule the poor and weak believers such as Suhayb the Roman and Ammar bin Yasir.
Verily, those who were guilty of committing the great sin, i.e. disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness, used to laugh at those who believed in worldly life.
83:30 And when they passed by them, they would wink at one another.
When the disbelievers passed by the believers, they would wink at one another, ridiculing and mocking them. They would wink at one another to show their disdain for the believers, as they believed that they were better than the poor and weak believers in terms of wealth and social status.
83:31 And when then returned to their people, they would return jesting.
When the disbelievers returned to their people, they would return jesting. They were happy because of their ridicule and mockery of the believers. They acted as if their shameless conduct against the believers was a source of enjoyment and amusement, which is evidence of their ignorance and stupidity.
83:32 And when they saw them, they would say, ‘Indeed, those are truly astray.’
The wicked disbelievers did not only ridicule the believers but also claimed that the believers were astray as they renounced the religion of their ancestors and believed in Allah’s Oneness. According to the disbelievers’ opinion, following the right path of believing in Allah’s Oneness is deviation, which indicates their corruption.
83:33 Yet they were not sent as watchers over them.
When the disbelievers claimed that the believers went astray, they acted as if they were sent as watchers over them; however, they were not sent as watchers over then, nor were they responsible for the belief and deeds of the believers. Only Allah watches over all creatures and He will recompense them according to their deeds.
The intended meaning is to reprimand the disbelievers for their wickedness and bad behavior, as they were not fit to judge people and decide who followed the right path and who did not. Allah did not charge them with watching over the believers. Rather, Allah commanded them to follow the right path of believing in His Oneness, which they did not follow.
83:34 So today, those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers,
83:35 on couches, gazing.
This is consolation and good news to the believers who greatly suffered from the ridicule and mockery of the disbelievers in the worldly life.
On the Day of Judgment, the believers, who believe in Allah’s Oneness, obey His commands, and avoid His prohibitions, will laugh at the disbelievers. They will be reclining on couches in Paradise, gazing at the disbelievers while they are punished in Hell.
This is fitting recompense for the wickedness of the disbelievers and their mockery of the believers in the worldly life. Allah will reward the believers and heal their wounded souls by making them laugh at the disbelievers. They will see them suffering from the humiliating and painful torment of Hell. Indeed, the worldly life, no matter how long it may last, is short; on the other hand, the Hereafter is the everlasting life for whose happiness the strivers should strive.
83:36 Have the disbelievers not been recompensed for what they used to do?
The interrogation is for affirmation. Indeed, the disbelievers will be recompensed with the suitable punishment for their mockery and ridicule of the believers in the worldly life. Allah will punish them with the punishment that they deserve. They will suffer lasting torment in Hell.
Learned Lessons from Surah al-Mutaffifin Ayah 29-36
• The disbelievers always feel enmity and hatred towards the believers. It is natural that faith never exists with disbelief, true creed with corrupt doctrine, and sublime ethics with vices.
• The disbelievers used to ridicule and mock the believers. They thought that they were better than the weak, poor believers. Verily, they were ignorant as they thought that the only criterion for judging people was materialistic values. In fact, sound faith and sublime ethics outweigh materialistic values.
• The disbelievers thought that the believers were misguided, as they did not follow their corrupt faith, which they followed because it was their ancestors’ faith. This indicates their ignorance and stupidity, as they believed that baseless imitation in belief was sufficient to render it sound. However, sound evidence is the foundation of correct belief, not baseless imitation.
• In the Hereafter, the disbelievers will justly be recompensed for their ridicule and mockery of the believers in the worldly life. The believers will laugh at the disbelievers in the Hereafter, seeing them punished in the painful torment of Hell.
• Indeed, the worldly life is fleeting. No matter how long the disbelievers may enjoy its pleasures and no matter how long the believers may suffer in this world, the happy end will be for the believers while severe torment will be for the disbelievers.
The Noble Quran, Surah al-Mutaffifin, English Translation
Tafsir of Surah al-Hijr Ayah 85-89 Guidelines to Messenger Muhammad Salla Allah Alayhi wa-Salam
The Noble Quran Surah Yusuf: Translation and Tafsir
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