وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۙ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَٰرَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
47:28.
3:182; 22:10.
Commentary:
The verse signifies that angels will smite the faces and the backs of disbelievers as a fitting punishment for their evil actions. The punishment corresponded with the actions of disbelievers, because the latter used to confront the believers and meet them face to face when fighting them. Again, they used to turn their backs disdainfully when truth was preached to them. So both faces and backs would receive punishment.