The Quranic Chapter 77 and the Meaning of Denying Both the Quran and the Last Day

Published in March 15, 2018

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Introduction:

 This article aims to assert and remind of the fact that if a person believes even in a single hadith inside Al-Bokhary book or any other books of hadiths, this means that this person rejects, denies, and disbelieves in the Quran itself; if one dies without repentance as one sticks to such hadiths, or even to one of them, one dies thus as a polytheist who denied the Quran and will enter into Hell in the Hereafter. Within theQuranic Chapter 77, this verse is repeated ten times: "Woe on that Day to the deniers." (77:15, 77:19, 77:24, 77:28, 77:34, 77:37, 77:40, 77:45, 77:47, and 77:49). Let us first tackle the Quranic term (woe) in the points below.  

Firstly: the meaning of the Quranic term (woe):

 It comes in the contexts of torment, the threat of it or the warning against it, and within lamenting one's being torment or fear of torment. We briefly explain this in the following points.

Lamentation:

 This is when people lament their miserable state when being tormented in this world; the Hell-dwellers will be endlessly lamenting the result of their disbelief and sins as they will be tormented for eternity.

Within being tormented in this world:

1- Within the Quranic parable of the brothers who had a garden decided never to feed the poor and the needy from its harvest ever again, their garden and its harvest were destroyed by God as their punishment; they lamented their misery by uttering the word (woe), as we read in this verse: "Then they turned to one another, blaming one another. They said, "Woe to us - we were indeed unjust." (68:30-31).

2- When tyrants are tormented in this world, they lament while admitting the fact that they have been among the unjust people: "And when a breath of your Lord's torment touches them, they say, "Woe to us, we were truly unjust!"" (21:46); this is detailed in these verses in the same Quranic Chapter: "How many a guilty town have We crushed, and established thereafter another people? Then, when they sensed Our might, they started running away from it. Do not run, but come back to your luxuries, and to your homes, that you may be questioned. They said, "Woe to us; we were truly unjust!" This continued to be their cry, until We made them silent ashes." (21:11-15).

3- We have written before about Gog and Magog who reside now under the crust of the earth within an unknown location; they will get out and emerge on the surface of the earth shortly before the Hour; when the Hour takes place, the disbelievers among the last human generation will lament in vain after it is too late for them: "Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they swarm down from every mound. The promise of Truth has drawn near. The eyes of those who disbelieved will stare in horror: "Woe to us! We were oblivious to this! In fact, we were among the unjust ones!"" (21:96-97). 

Within being tormented in the Hereafter:

1- Upon Resurrection after the Hour (or the explosion and destruction of the universe symbolized by the trumpet being blown), human beings will get out of their tombs; those who disbelieved in the Last Day will lament their disbelief: "It will be a single strike, and they will be staring. They will say, "Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!" "This is the Day of Judgment which you used to deny." (37:19-21); "The Trumpet will be blown, then behold, they will rush from the tombs to their Lord. They will say, "Woe to us! Who resurrected us from our resting-place?!" This is what the Dominant Lord has promised, and the messengers have spoken the Truth."" (36:51-52).

2- The sinners will lament the fact that their evil, bad deeds and their sins are written down fully: "And the book will be placed, and you will see the sinners fearful of its contents. And they will say, "Woe to us! What is with this book that leaves nothing, small or big, but it has enumerated it?!" They will find everything they had done present. Your Lord does not wrong anyone." (18:49).

3- Inside Hell, tormented unjust ones and sinners will lament in vain after it is too late: "On that Day, the unjust one will bite his hands, and say, "If only I had followed the way with the Messenger. Oh, woe to me! I wish I never took so-and-so for an intimate friend. He led me away from the Message after it had come to me; for Satan has always been a betrayer of man."" (25:27-30).

Within threatening and warning:

 The term (woe) is used among human beings when they address one another within the contexts of threatening and warning, a per the examples in the points below.

1- Moses warned Pharaoh and his people and family members this way: "Moses said to them, "Woe to you. Do not fabricate lies against God, or He will destroy you with a torment. He who invents lies will fail."" (20:61).

2- The knowledgeable ones in faith among the Israelites rebuked those other Israelites who wished to be as much wealthy as the evil sinner named Quaroon: "But those who were given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of God is better for those who believe and do righteous deeds." Yet none attains it except the patient ones." (28:80).

3- Within this Quranic parable about the believing parents and their disbelieving son, we see the word (woe): "...While they cry for God's help, "Woe to you! Believe! The promise of God is true!" But he says, "These are nothing but tales of the ancients."" (46:17).

Within God's warning addressed to disbelievers:

1- General warning to all disbelievers and polytheists in all eras: "So woe to those who disbelieve because of that Day of theirs which they are promised." (51:60); "...And woe to the disbelievers from a severe torment." (14:2); "...And woe to those who disbelieve from the scene of a tremendous Day." (19:37); "...And woe to the polytheists." (41:6); "...Woe unto you, for what you describe." (21:18); "...And woe to those who disbelieve because of the Fire." (38:27); "...And woe to the unjust ones from the suffering of a painful Day." (43:65).

2- Special warnings:

2/1: This warning is addressed to those who cheat when they trade or weigh goods: "Woe to the defrauders." (83:1).

2/2: This warning is addressed to those who backbite others and spread evil rumors and slanders about them: "Woe to every slanderer backbiter." (104:1).

2/3: This warning is addressed to those who hypocrites who pray before the eyes of others to feign being pious: "And woe to those who pray. Those who are heedless of their prayers. Those who put on the appearance. And withhold the assistance." (107:4-7).

2/4: This warning is addressed to those who distort God's Word: "So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say, "This is from God"..." (2:79).

2/5: This warning is addressed to those who hate God's Remembrance or His Word: "...Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the mention of God..." (39:22).

3- Warnings addressed to deniers:

3/1: This warning is addressed to those who deny the Last Day: "Woe on that Day to the deniers. Those who play with speculation. The Day when they are shoved into the Fire of Hell forcefully." (52:11-14).

3/2: This warning is addressed to those who deny the Last Day and the Quran: "Woe on that Day to the deniers. Those who deny the Day of Judgment. But none denies it except the sinful aggressor. When Our Verses are recited to him, he says, "Tales of the ancients."" (83:10-13).

3/3: This warning is addressed to those who deny the Quran by believing in other discourses/narratives/hadiths alongside with it: "These are God's Verses which We recite to you in Truth. In which discourse, after God and His Verses, will they believe? Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's Verses being recited to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Announce to him a painful torment. And when he learns something of Our Verses, he takes them in mockery. For such there is a shameful torment." (45:6-9).

4- The Quranic Chapter 77 mentions the word (woe) several times, as we show in the points below.

Secondly: tackling briefly the Quranic Chapter 77:

1- The Quranic Chapter 77 beings with God swearing by many different types of angels with missions on earth in order to assert that the Divine Promise is True: "By those unleashed in succession. Storming turbulently. Scattering far and wide. Separating decisively.Delivering a message. Excusing or warning. Surely what you are promised will happen." (77:1-7).

2- God says the following about the destruction of the universe when the Hour takes place: "When the stars are obliterated. And the sky is fractured. And the mountains are blown away. And the messengers are alerted. Until which day is it deferred? Until the Day of Decision. And what will teach you what the Day of Decision is?" (77:8-14). This is about those who deny the Last Day which is named also as thee Day of Decision or Judgment: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:15)

3- We read these verses about the destruction of sinners: "Did We not destroy the ancients? Then succeeded them with those who followed them? This is how We deal with the criminals." (77:16-18); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:19).

4- God addresses the following to humanity about the creation of human beings: "Did We not create you from an insignificant fluid? Then lodged it in a secure place? For a known term? We measured precisely. We are the best to measure." (77:20-23); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:24).

5- These verses are about the creation of the earth and its mountains: "Did We not make the earth a homestead?It contains the living and the dead. And We set on it lofty mountains, and given you pure water to drink" (77:25-27); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:28).

6- These words will be addressed to the Hell-dwellers: ""Proceed to what you used to deny." "Proceed to a shadow of three different masses." Offering no shade, and unavailing against the flames. It shoots sparks as castles. As if they were yellow camels." (77:29-33); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:34).

7- These verses are about Hell-dwellers: "This is a Day when they will not speak. And they will not be allowed to apologize." (77:35-36); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:37).

8- God will say this to the sinners and losers on the Last Day about the Day of Judgment: "This is the Day of Decision; We have gathered you, together with the ancients. So if you have a scheme, use it against Me." (77:38-39); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:40).

9- These verses are about the pious ones who will be the winners in Paradise: "The pious ones will be amidst shades and fountains. And fruits as they desire. "Eat and drink pleasantly, for what you used to do." This is how We reward the doers of good." (77:41-44); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:45).

10- This verse is about warning the sinners on earth: "Eat and enjoy yourselves a little; you are indeed criminals."" (77:46); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:47).

11- This verse is about the sinners' disbelief and disobedience: "And when it is said to them, "Kneel", they do not kneel." (77:48); God, directly after this, says the following: "Woe on that Day to the deniers!" (77:49).

12- Eventually, this pivotal question comes as a result of all of the verses that precede it: "In what discourse, beyond this, will they believe?" (77:50).

Lastly:

1- The phrase (there is no doubt) is repeated in the Quranic text within the verses about the Quran itself and about the Day of Judgment; the pious believers must believe in the Quran and in the Last Day without any percentage of doubt. Those Muhammadans who adhere to the earthly, man-made, fabricated religions have invented and believed in an imaginary last-day filled with intercessors and mediators along with other mythology; such lies and falsehoods drive them to disbelieve in the Quran and to reject its facts about the Last Day.   

2- This is why those who believe in any discourses/hadiths besides, or instead of, the Quran are denying and disbelieving in the Quran and in the Last Day.