Overview (Verses 27 - 29)

What Use is Regret?

The sūrah then portrays an image showing the regret and remorse felt by the unbelievers. It is portrayed at length, in detail, giving the impression that it is unending, where every wrongdoer bites his own hand in a gesture of regret:

On that day the wrongdoer will bite his hands and say: ‘Would that I had followed the path shown to me by the Messenger. Oh, woe is me! Would that I had never taken so- and-so for a friend He surely led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!’ Satan is ever treacherous to man. (Verses 27-29)

Everything around the wrongdoing unbeliever is still, while he sends out expressions of regret, with sorrow marking his voice. The rhythm here is deliberately long to add to the sound effects. As we read or hear these verses, we also seem to participate in the expression of regret. “On that day the wrongdoer will bite his hands.” (Verse 27) One hand is not enough. He bites both, alternating from one to the other, because his sorrow and regret are so keen. The movement itself is very common, expressing what the person making it feels. Hence, it is shown in full clarity.

The wrongdoer will also say: “Would that I had followed the path shown to me by the Messenger!” (Verse 27) Would that I followed his way and had not moved a single step away from it! He says this about God’s Messenger despite the fact that he had denied the very possibility that God might have entrusted him with a message.

“Oh, woe is me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so for a friend!” (Verse 28) No name is mentioned here, but the friend is described as ‘so and so’ to include every bad friend who encouraged him to turn away from the path of God’s Messenger and follow the wrong way. “He surely led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!” (Verse 29) He was indeed Satan’s aide, or was himself just another Satan. “Satan is ever treacherous to man,” leading him into situations of error and letting him down when he most needs help.

We see how the Qur’ān shakes their hearts, painting these fearful scenes of their fate as though this is already happening before their eyes. Yet still they deny God and speak of Him in a way that shows no respect. Indeed they make careless suggestions when what awaits them is certain to fill them with regret.

Perhaps we should add that some reports mention that these verses were revealed to the Prophet by way of comment on an incident involving `Uqbah ibn Abī Mu`ayţ, who frequently visited and sat with the Prophet. One day he invited the Prophet for a meal. The Prophet said that he would not eat `Uqbah’s food unless `Uqbah uttered the declaration, ‘I bear witness that there is no deity other than God, and that Muhammad is God’s Messenger.’ `Uqbah did so. His friend, Ubayy ibn Khalaf, however later remonstrated with him, saying: ‘You have abandoned your religion.’ `Uqbah said: ‘No, by God! It was only that he refused to eat my food when he was in my home, and I felt embarrassed, so I granted his wish.’ Ubayy said: ‘I will not be satisfied unless you go and step over him and spit in his face.’ `Uqbah looked for the Prophet until he found him in prostration near Dar al-Nadwah, and he did just that. The Prophet said to him: ‘Should I ever meet you outside Makkah, I will hit your head with my sword.’ `Uqbah was taken prisoner in the Battle of Badr, and the Prophet ordered `Alī to execute him.