َ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءَهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا ﴿۲۷﴾ نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَا أَسْرَهُمْ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا ﴿۲۸﴾ إِنَّ هَذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَنْ شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا ﴿۲۹﴾ وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿۳۰﴾ يُدْخِلُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ﴿۳۱﴾

﴾27﴿ Inna haaa'ulaa'i yuhibboona 'aajilata wa yazaroona
﴾28﴿ Nahnu khalaqnaahum wa shadadnaaa asrahum wa izaa shi'naa baddalnaaa amsaala hum tabdeelaa
﴾29﴿ Inna haazihee tazkiratun fa man shaaa'at takhaza ilaa rabbihee sabeela
﴾30﴿ Wa maa tashaaa'oona illaa anyyashaaa'al laah; innal laahaa kaana'Aleeman Hakeema
﴾31﴿ Yudkhilu mai yashaaa'u fee rahmatih; wazzaalimeena a'adda lahum 'azaaban aleemaa

﴾27﴿ Indeed, these people love the worldly life and leave behind them a heavy Day
﴾28﴿ We created them and strengthened their forms, and when We will, We can replace them with others like them in exchange
﴾29﴿ Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take a path to their Lord
﴾30﴿ And you cannot will anything unless Allah, the Most High, wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, Wise
﴾31﴿ He admits whom He wills into His mercy, but as for the wrongdoers, He has prepared for them a painful punishment

[27] This is a rebuke directed at the one who loves the world—and because of that love, becomes heedless of the remembrance of Allah and the Hereafter.
[28] This is a proof for the Resurrection, similar to the beginning of the surah, and also a rebuke to the worldly people.
“Asrahum” is derived from isār—a rope used to tie a camel’s saddle. The word asīr (captive) also comes from this root.
Here, asra refers to the limbs and joints being gathered and bound together.
“Amthālahum”—means: We will destroy them and replace them with other people who will be obedient.
Or, it could mean that their forms will be transformed (metamorphosed) into vile and ugly shapes.
[29] This is similar to Surah al-Muzzammil (verse 19).
There, the focus is on reminding about the etiquettes of da‘wah (inviting to truth) along with a warning of worldly punishment.
Here, the emphasis is on affirming the Resurrection and its conditions, along with guidance on the manners and principles of da‘wah.
[30,31] “Fa-man shā’a” and “wa mā tashā’ūna”—these indicate that human beings do have will and choice; they are not completely compelled. This refutes the belief of the Jabriyyah, who deny free will.
“Illā an yashā’a Allāh”—shows that a person’s will is not independent; it operates under Allah’s will and permission. This refutes the Qadariyyah, who believe humans act completely independently of Allah’s will.
Thus, this verse is a balanced refutation of both extremes—confirming human responsibility while affirming Allah’s supreme will.