Transliteration:( Yawma tabi yaddu wujoohunw wa taswaddu wujooh; fa-ammal lazeenas waddat wujoo hum akafartum ba'da eemaanikum fazooqul 'azaaba bimaa kuntum takfuroon )
"On that Day, some faces will be white, and some faces will be black. As for those whose faces have been blackened [237], they will be told: 'Did you turn to disbelief after accepting faith? Then taste the punishment for your rejection' [238]."
From this verse, we understand that on the Day of Judgement, every believer and disbeliever will be clearly distinguished by the appearance of their faces, without the need for any questioning. The bright faces will indicate believers, while darkened faces will signify disbelievers and hypocrites. This explanation also helps clarify the saying of the Holy Prophet ﷺ regarding the apostates at the Pond of Kauthar, where he says, “They are my Companions”—this is not said out of non-recognition, but as a form of sarcasm or divine reproach. Similar is the style in the Qur’an when Allah addresses the people of Hell: "Taste it. Yes certainly you are the honourable, the benignant" (Surah Ad-Dukhan, Verse 49) — which is clearly a taunt, not praise. The Prophet’s words at Kauthar should thus be understood in the same light — as a condemnation, not an endorsement.
This warning is directed at those who turned away from faith after accepting it — either at the Day of Covenant, where all souls acknowledged their Lord, or those who accepted Islam outwardly but disbelieved inwardly, or those who believed for a time and later became apostates. Hence, this address from Allah is understood to apply broadly — to disbelievers in general, to hypocrites, and specifically to apostates. The statement "taste the punishment for your rejection" confirms that their crime was wilful disbelief after receiving guidance, and therefore their punishment is justified and severe.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 106 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 104 which provides the complete commentary from verse 104 through 109.
(3:106) On the Day when some faces will turn bright and ther faces will turn dark. Those whose faces have turned dark will be told: ‘Did you fall into unbelief after you had been blessed with belief? Taste, then, chastisement for your unbelief.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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