The Quran

Preface

۞ وَإِن تَعجَب فَعَجَبٌ قَولُهُم أَإِذا كُنّا تُرابًا أَإِنّا لَفي خَلقٍ جَديدٍ ۗ أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا بِرَبِّهِم ۖ وَأُولٰئِكَ الأَغلالُ في أَعناقِهِم ۖ وَأُولٰئِكَ أَصحابُ النّارِ ۖ هُم فيها خالِدونَ

Yusuf Ali

If thou dost marvel (at their want of faith), strange is their saying: “When we are (actually) dust,¹ shall we indeed then be in a creation renewed?” They are those who deny their Lord! They are those round whose necks will be yokes (of servitude):² they will be Companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for aye)!

After seeing the Signs in nature and the Signs in revelation, it is indeed strange that people should deny their Creator. But if they admit the Signs of the Creator, Who works marvels before their very eyes everyday, why should they doubt that when they are reduced to dust, they can be raised up again? If one creation is possible, what difficulty can there be in accepting a renewed creation? It becomes then a question of obstinate and rebellious will, for which the punishment is described.
Aghlal: yokes (of servitude): Cf. 7:157 and n. 1128. The punishment may be conceived of in two stages: immediately, yokes of servitude to superstition, falsehood, etc., as against the freedom in Faith; and finally, the Fire which burns the very soul (see also 32:10).