Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:106-107)

Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:106-107)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

Faces With Hope and Despair

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ اسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ ‎﴿١٠٦﴾‏ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ابْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ‎﴿١٠٧﴾‏

3:106 On the Day (some) faces will turn white and (some) faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, (to them it will be said): “Did you disbelieve after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject.”

3:107 But as for those whose faces will turn white, (they will be) within the Mercy of Allah (SWT). They will abide therein eternally.

Commentary: The Verses/Ayahs emphasize that turning away from faith and returning to disbelief, as well as moving from honesty to hypocrisy and embracing immoral values from the pre-Islamic era, will lead to humiliation and dishonor. On the other hand, adhering to the teachings of Islam will result in honor and dignity both in this life and in the Hereafter. This dignity and honor will be reflected as light that brightens the faces of believers, while humiliation and shame will manifest as darkness on the faces of disbelievers.

Verse 3:106 describes the state of disbelievers on the Day of Judgment as: “On the Day of Judgment (some) faces will turn white (يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ) and (some) faces will turn black (وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ). As for those whose faces turn black (فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ اسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ), (to them it will be said), “Did you disbelieve after your belief (أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ)? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject (فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ).”

In contrast, Verse 3:107 states that believers will be enveloped in a sea of Divine Mercy and experience eternal peace. Verse reads 3:107: “But as for those whose faces will turn white (وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ابْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ), (they will be) within the Mercy of Allah (SWT) (فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ). They will abide therein eternally (هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ).”

The conditions and qualities of a person’s life, along with their rewards and punishments in the afterlife, are direct reflections of their thoughts, intentions, and actions in this world. Every action taken leaves a significant and lasting imprint on the soul, even if these imprints are not easily recognized during a person’s lifetime. However, on the Day of Judgment, these imprints will be revealed in their true form.

Faith and unity among believers in this world create strength, power, honor, and dignity, while disunity and a lack of faith in a nation lead to fragility, humiliation, and disgrace. In the afterlife, honor and dignity are represented as light, whereas humiliation and disgrace are associated with darkness.

This fact is also mentioned in several other verses of the Quran, such as Verse 10:27 (Yunus), which addresses those who perpetually sin:

… كَأَنَّمَا أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ قِطَعًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ‎﴿٢٧﴾‏

10:27 … It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night – so dark (are they). Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.

Regarding those who lie about God, Verse 39:60 (Az-Zumar) states:

وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَرَى الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ وُجُوهُهُم مُّسْوَدَّةٌ ۚ … ‎﴿٦٠﴾‏

39:60 And on the Day of Resurrection, you will see those who lied about Allah (SWT) [with] their faces blackened. Is there not in Hell a residence for the arrogant?