Surah Al-Hijr — Verse 35

Key Words and Meanings:

• اللَّعْنَة (al-la‘nah): Cursing, being cast out, and being deprived of Allah’s mercy. It signifies being far removed from all that is good and blessed.
• يَوْمِ الدِّين (Yawm ad-Dīn): The Day of Recompense and Judgment, when all creation will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah Almighty addresses Iblīs (Satan) after his refusal to prostrate to Adam (peace be upon him) out of arrogance and pride. Allah declares that upon Iblīs will be a continuous curse and expulsion from divine mercy—not just for a limited time, but extending until the Day of Judgment, the Day when all beings will be raised for reckoning and reward or punishment. This curse means that Iblīs is utterly banished from the realms of goodness, despised in the heavens and the earth, and deprived of any hope of Allah’s compassion. The severity of this punishment reflects the gravity of his sin: he challenged Allah’s command, considered himself superior to a creation honored by Allah, and thus sealed his own fate as an outcast forever.

This divine decree is a profound lesson for humanity. It shows that arrogance and disobedience to Allah’s clear commands lead to ruin, while humility and submission open the doors of mercy. The curse upon Iblīs is not merely a punishment but a warning to every soul that follows his footsteps: whoever imitates his pride and rebellion will share in his disgrace. Yet, in His infinite mercy, Allah has not left us without guidance—He sent prophets, revealed scriptures, and gave us the Qur’an to illuminate our path. So let this verse inspire you to cling to humility, obey your Lord, and seek His forgiveness, for His mercy is vast for those who turn to Him sincerely. And know that the end of the righteous is honor and eternal bliss, while the end of the arrogant is loss and regret. Choose the path of light, and you will never taste the bitterness of being cast away from His love.