Surah Al-Anfaal
Chapter 8 · Verse 50 · Revealed in Madinah
“And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved... They are striking their faces and their backs and [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
The Angels smite the Disbelievers upon capturing Their Souls
Allah says, if you witnessed the angels capturing the souls of the disbelievers, you would witness a tremendous, terrible, momentous and awful matter,
يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَـرَهُمْ
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
Commentary
Mentioned in the first two of the verses cited above is the punishment of disbelievers at the time of their death and the warnings given to them by the angels. Here, addressing the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، it has been said that had he seen the condition of the disbelievers at that time when the angels of Allah were beating their faces and backs as they extracted their souls and telling them to have a taste of the punishment of burning in the Fire, then, he would have seen some-thing awesome.
What does this verse bring up for you today?