Surah Baqarah ayat 161 Tafsir Quran 2:161

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ﴾
[ البقرة: 161]

2:161 Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together,

But those who disbelieve and die disbelieving wa-hum kuffār ‘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.

Those denying Allah, and rejecting the Faith, who died captivated in disbelief, had come within the measure of Allahs wrath. Such persons have earned the curse of Allah, the angels and of mankind

The Eternal Curse for Those Who hide Religious Commandments 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 ﷺ said:
«مَنْ سُئِلَ 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 مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَـتِ 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 اللَّـعِنُونَ ( 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. فَأُوْلَـئِكَ 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 those who disbelieve in Him and remain in this state until they die, then: أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلـئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ( 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, لاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ ( their punishment will neither be lightened ) Hence, the torment will not be decreased for them, وَلاَ 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 ﷺ said:
«لَا 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.

(2:161) Those who adopted the way of disbelief *161 and died as disbelievers, are accursed of Allah and of angels and of all mankind: they shall remain accursed for ever.

Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while meaning

*161).
The original meaning of kufr is to conceal.
This lent the word a nuance of denial and it began to be used as an antonym of iman .
Iman means to believe, to accept, and to recognize.
Kufr, on the contrary, denotes refusal to believe, to deny, to reject.
According to the Qur'an there are several possible forms of disbelief.
One is to refuse either to believe in the existence of God, to acknowledge His sovereignty, to recognize Him as the only Lord of the Universe and of mankind or to recognize Him as the only Lord and the only object of worship and adoration.
The second form of disbelief is when a man recognizes the existence of God but still refuses to accept His ordinances and directives as the only source of true guidance, and as the true law for his life.
The third form of disbelief is when even though a man recognizes in principle that he ought to follow the guidance of God he refuses to believe in the Prophets who were the means of communicating God's guidance to man.
The fourth form of disbelief is to differentiate between one Prophet and another and, out of parochialism and bigotry, to accept some Prophets and reject others.
The fifth form of disbelief is the refusal to recognize, either totally or partially, the teachings communicated by the Prophets, on God's behalf, concerning the beliefs, the principles of morality, and the laws for fashioning human life.
The sixth form of disbelief is where a person theoretically accepts all that he should accept but wilfully disobeys God's ordinances and persists in this disobedience, and considers disobedience rather than obedience to God to be the true principle of life.

All these modes of thought and action are forms of rebellion towards God and the Qur'an characterizes each of them as kufr.
In addition, the term kufr is used at several places in the Qur'an in the sense of ingratitude and in this usage it signifies the exact opposite of shukr ( gratitude ).
Gratefulness consists in feeling thankful to one's benefactor, in duly recognizing the value of his benevolence, in making use of it in a manner pleasing to its bestower, and in being utterly loyal to him.
Ingratitude denotes, on the contrary, that the man concerned has either failed to recognize the bounty of his benefactor, or considers it to be either the outcome of his own power and ability or else that of some other person's favour or intercession.
Another form of ingratitude consists in failing to recognize fully the worth of the bounty received and in either allowing it to be wasted or to be used in contravention of the will of the benefactor; this ingratitude includes infidelity and treachery towards the benefactor in disregard of his benevolence and kindness.
This kind of kufr is known in ordinary language as ungratefulness.

 

The Eternal Curse for Those Who hide Religious Commandments 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 ﷺ said: «مَنْ سُئِلَ 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 مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَـتِ 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 اللَّـعِنُونَ ( 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. فَأُوْلَـئِكَ 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 those who disbelieve in Him and remain in this state until they die, then: أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلـئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ( 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, لاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ ( their punishment will neither be lightened ) Hence, the torment will not be decreased for them, وَلاَ 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 ﷺ said: «لَا 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.

( Lo! Those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers ) in Allah and His Messenger; ( on them is the curse of Allah ) the torment of Allah ( and of the angels ) the curse of the angels ( and of men combined ) the curses directed by believers towards each other will end up as curses on these unbelievers.

Verily, those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers, it is they on whom is the Curse of Allah and of the angels and of mankind, combined.

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