Surah Ash-Shuraa, Ayah 46

The State of the Wrongdoers on the Day of Resurrection

Allah tells us that whatever He wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen, and no one can make it happen. Whomever He guides, none can lead astray, and whomever He leads astray, none can guide, as He says:

وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا

(but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no protecting to lead him.) (18:17). Then Allah tells us about the wrongdoers, i.e., the idolators who associate others in worship with Allah:

لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ اْلَعَذَابَ

(when they behold the torment,) i.e., on the Day of Resurrection, they will wish that they could go back to this world.

Commentary

The earlier three of the above verses state the end of those people who, as against the virtuous Muslims, remained desirous of the delights and luxuries of this world, instead of caring about the Hereafter. Then in verse 47, they have been advised to repent and embrace faith before the scourge of Doomsday comes upon them. Thereafter, in verse 48, the Holy Prophet ﷺ has been comforted and assured that if these people do not come to their senses, despite your preaching again and again, and despite your tireless efforts, then you should not worry: فَإِنْ أَعْرَ‌ضُوا فَمَا أَرْ‌سَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا "So, if they turn away, then We did not send you as a supervisor over them. You are not responsible but for conveying the message" - 48.

In this world, guidance is revealed through logic, this being the law of God for this world. This means that in this world only that person will benefit from guidance who proves himself capable of understanding matters by a process of reasoning. The establishing of a fact by this method is enough to make him bow down before it. Those who do not accept facts in this way, can never receive guidance in this world. One who does not yield to reason in this world, runs the risk of being laid low by God’s power in the Hereafter. But bowing down on the Day of Judgement is of no avail to anybody, because then it will serve only to humble a man and not make him entitled to a reward.