And those who have earned evil deeds, the recompense of an evil deed is the like thereof, and humiliating disgrace will cover them (their faces). No defender will they have from Allah. Their faces will be covered as it were with pieces from the darkness of night. They are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever (27)
The Reward of the Wicked Criminals
After Allah told us about the state of those happy people who have done right and He promised increase in reward, He continued to tell us about the unlucky, miserable ones. He told us about His justice with them. He will reward them with similar evil, without any increase
وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ
(and will cover them) meaning that their faces will be covered and overtaken by humiliation because of their sins and their fear from these sins. Similarly Allah said:
وَتَرَاهُمْ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا خَاشِعِينَ مِنَ الذُّلِّ
(And you will see them brought forward to it, (Hell) made humble by disgrace.)[42:45] He also said:
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ - مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِي رُءُوسِهِمْ
(Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the wrongdoers do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror. (They will be) hastening forward with necks outstretched, their heads raised up (towards the sky).)[14:42-43] Allah then said:
مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ
(No defender will they have from Allah.) meaning, there will be no protectors to prevent them from punishment as Allah said:
يَقُولُ الْإِنسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ الْمَفَرُّ - كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ - إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمُسْتَقَرُّ
(On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee?" No! There is no refuge! Unto your Lord (alone) will be the place of rest that Day.)[75:10-12]
Allah's statement:
كَأَنَّمَا أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ
(Their faces will be covered as it were...) means that their faces will be dark in the Hereafter. This is similar to His statement:
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ اسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ - وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ابْيَضَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
(On the Day (the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black; as for those whose faces will become black (to them will be said): "Did you reject faith after accepting it? Then taste the torment (in Hell) for rejecting faith." And for those whose faces will become white, they will be in Allah's mercy (Paradise), therein they shall dwell forever.)[3:106-107]
He also said:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّسْفِرَةٌ - ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ - وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَيْهَا غَبَرَةٌ
(Some faces that Day will be bright, laughing, rejoicing at good news (of Paradise). And other faces that Day will be dust-stained.)[80:38-40]