فَأَذاقَهُمُ اللَّهُ الخِزيَ فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا ۖ وَلَعَذابُ الآخِرَةِ أَكبَرُ ۚ لَو كانوا يَعلَمونَ

So Allah made them taste disgrace in the life of this world, and the punishment of the hereafter will surely be greater, had they known.

EXEGESIS

Al-khizy: degradation, abasement, disgrace, humiliation. It is an emotional state that arises due to a severe difficulty or affliction, whereby one is rendered stunned and ashamed.^{‎[1]Raghib; Fayyumi; Tahqiq, under kh-z-y.} Based on its Quranic usage, it can be simply translated as being let down, indicating one’s failure and disappointment. Given the context of the verse, the article al- is a definite article, indicating a specific and known disgrace, namely the notoriety of having been wiped off the face of the earth by God’s punishment due to denial and disobedience. A clear example of this is the divine curse that pursued the tribe of ʿĀd and Pharaoh and his followers (11:60, 28:42). Another graphic description of such a punishment is seen in this verse: How many a town We have destroyed that transgressed in its lifestyle! There lie their dwellings, uninhabited after them except by a few, and We were the [sole] inheritors (28:58). More Quranic examples of such punishments in this world are listed in verse 29:40.

EXPOSITION

Verses 25-26 provide real examples for the threats discussed in the previous verses. They make the earlier verses more credible and tangible to the reader because they show that it is a divine custom to make those who impugn the truth taste disgrace in this life and a more severe punishment in the hereafter. Those who were before them had denied likewise until they tasted Our punishment (6:148; see also 10:39, 34:45, 35:25-26, 67:18).

… the punishment overtook them whence they were not aware in verse 25 warns the audience to take heed before it is too late, because the previous nations were taken off guard. The Quran warns us that no one should feel secure from being suddenly seized by God at any time and during any task (7:97-99). The reason for this is that this life is a period of test and examination. This purpose would not be achieved unless one’s lifespan and remaining opportunities are unknown to him.

… the punishment of the hereafter will surely be greater. The verse does not specify in what aspect the punishment of the hereafter is greater than what was meted out to them in this world. Thus, it remains open to any plausible possibility, such as being more intense in terms of disgrace, pain, or duration.

The following verses from chapter 16 are very similar to the verses being discussed here, and provide more insight into what disgrace in the life of this world, and the punishment of the hereafter could mean: Those who were before them [had also] schemed. Then Allah razed their edifice from the foundations and the roof collapsed upon them from above and the punishment overtook them whence they were not aware. Then He will disgrace them on the Day of Resurrection, and say: ‘Where are My partners for whose sake you used to defy [Allah]?’ Those who were given knowledge will say: ‘Indeed today disgrace and distress pursue the faithless’ (16:26-27).

[1] Raghib; Fayyumi; Tahqiq, under kh-z-y.