Allah narrates to us how the disbelieving nations threatened their
Messengers, that being, expulsion from their land and banshiment. For instance,
the people of Prophet Shu`ayb, peace be upon him, said to him and to those who
believed in him,
[لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ
يـشُعَيْبُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَآ]
(We shall certainly drive you out from our town, O Shu`ayb, and those who
have believed with you.) [7:88] The people of Prophet Lut, peace be upon him,
said,
[أَخْرِجُواْ ءَالَ
لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ]
(Drive out the family of Lut from your city.) [27:56] Allah said about the
idolators of Quraysh,
[وَإِن كَادُواْ
لَيَسْتَفِزُّونَكَ مِنَ الاٌّرْضِ لِيُخْرِجُوكَ مِنْهَا وَإِذًا لاَّ يَلْبَثُونَ
خِلَـفَكَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ]
(And verily, they were about to frighten you so much as to drive you out from
the land. But in that case they would not have stayed after you, except for a
little while.)[17:76] and,
[وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ
بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ
وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَـكِرِينَ ]
(And when the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you, or to kill
you, or to expel you out; they were plotting and Allah too was plotting; and
Allah is the Best of those who plot. ) [8:30] Allah gave victory and aid to His
Messenger after he emigrated from Makkah and gathered followers, supporters, and
soldiers around him, who fought in the cause of Allah, the Exalted. Allah kept
granting His Messenger more dominance until He opened for him Makkah, which
sought to expel him. Allah gave him dominance over it, even when his enemies
from Makkah and the rest of the people of the earth disliked it. Soon after,
people began embracing the religion of Allah in large crowds and in a very short
time Allah's Word and religion became high over all other religions, from the
eastern and western parts of the world. Hence Allah's statement,
[فَأَوْحَى
إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّـلِمِينَوَلَنُسْكِنَنَّـكُمُ الاٌّرْضَ
مِن بَعْدِهِمْ]
(So their Lord revealed to them: "Truly, We shall destroy the wrongdoers. And
indeed, We shall make you dwell in the land after them.'') [14:13,14] Allah said
in other Ayat,
[وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ
كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ - إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنصُورُونَ -
وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَـلِبُونَ ]
(And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the
Messengers, that they verily, would be made triumphant, and that Our hosts! They
verily, would be the victors.) [37:171-173],
[كَتَبَ اللَّهُ
لاّغْلِبَنَّ أَنَاْ وَرُسُلِى إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ ]
(Allah has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the
victorious. Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.'')[58:21]
[وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا
فِى الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ]
(And indeed We have written in Az-Zabur after Adh-Dhikr.) [21:05]
[قَالَ مُوسَى
لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُواْ إِنَّ الأَرْضَ للَّهِ يُورِثُهَا
مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَـقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ]
(Musa said to his people: "Seek help in Allah and be patient. Verily, the
earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His servants:
and the (blessed) end is for the those who have Taqwa.'')[7:128] and,
[وَأَوْرَثْنَا
الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُواْ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَـرِقَ الاٌّرْضِ وَمَغَـرِبَهَا
الَّتِى بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَى عَلَى بَنِى
إِسْرءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ
وَمَا كَانُواْ يَعْرِشُونَ ]
(And We made the people who were considered weak to inherit the eastern parts
of the land and the western parts thereof which We have blessed. And the fair
Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because of their
endurance. And We destroyed completely all the great works and buildings which
Fir`awn and his people erected.)[7:137] Allah said next,
[ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ
مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ]
(This is for him who fears standing before Me and also fears My threat. )
this warning is for he who fears standing before Him on the Day of Resurrection
and fears His warnings and torment. Allah said in other instances,
[فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَى
- وَءاثَرَ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَا - فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِىَ الْمَأْوَى وَأَمَّا
مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِفَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِىَ
الْمَأْوَى ]
(Then for him who transgressed all bounds, and preferred the life of this
world, verily, his abode will be Hellfire. But as for him who feared standing
before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts.
Verily, Paradise will be his abode.)[79:37-41] and,
[وَلِمَنْ خَافَ
مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ ]
(But for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two
Gardens.)[55:46] Allah said next,
[وَاسْتَفْتَحُواْ]
(And they sought victory and help) refers to the Messengers who sought the
help and victory of their Lord over their nations, according to `Abdullah bin
`Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that this
Ayah refers to the nations, invoking Allah's victory against themselves! Some
idolators said,
[اللَّهُمَّ إِن
كَانَ هَـذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ
السَّمَآءِ أَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ]
(O Allah ! If this (Qur'an) is indeed the truth (revealed) from You, then
rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment.) [8:32] It
is possible that both meanings are desired here, for the idolators (of Quraysh)
invoked Allah against themselves on the day of Badr, and the Messenger of Allah
invoked Him for victory and support. Allah said to the idolators then,
[إِن تَسْتَفْتِحُواْ
فَقَدْ جَآءَكُمُ الْفَتْحُ وَإِن تَنتَهُواْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ]
((O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgment, now has the judgment come unto
you; and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you.) [8:19] Allah
knows best. Allah said next,
[وَخَابَ كُلُّ
جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ]
(and every obstinate, arrogant dictator was brought to a complete loss and
destruction.) those who were arrogant and rebelled against the truth. Allah said
in other Ayat,
[أَلْقِيَا فِى
جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ - مَّنَّـعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيبٍ -
الَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهاً ءَاخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَـهُ فِى الْعَذَابِ
الشَّدِيدِ ]
((Allah will say to the angels): "Both of you throw into Hell every stubborn
disbeliever - hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter, who set up another deity
with Allah. Then both of you cast him in the severe torment.'') [50:24-26] The
Prophet said,
«إِنَّهُ يُؤْتَى
بِجَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، فَتُنَادِي الْخَلَائِقَ، فَتَقُولُ: إِنِّي
وُكِّلْتُ بِكُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيد»
(On the Day of Resurrection, Jahannam (Hellfire) will be brought and it will
call the creatures, saying, "I was given the responsibility of every rebellious
tyrant.'') Therefore, every tyrant has earned utter demise and loss when the
Prophets invoked Allah, the Mighty, the Able for victory. Allah said next,
[مِّن وَرَآئِهِ
جَهَنَّمُ]
(In front of him is Hell,) Allah says that Jahannam is in front of every
obstinate tyrant, awaiting him, and he will reside in it forever on the Day of
Return. He will be brought to it in the morning and the afternoon until the Day
of the Call,
[وَيُسْقَى مِن
مَّآءٍ صَدِيدٍ]
(and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water.) in the Fire, his
only drink will be from Hamim and Ghassaq, the former is very hot and the latter
is very cold and rotten. Allah said in another instance,
[هَـذَا
فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ - وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكْلِهِ أَزْوَجٌ ]
(This is so! Then let them taste it - Hamim and Ghassaq. And other (torments)
of similar kind all together!)[38:57-58] Mujahid and `Ikrimah said that this
festering water is made of puss and blood. Allah said in other Ayat,
[وَسُقُواْ مَآءً
حَمِيماً فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَآءَهُمْ]
(And be given to drink boiling water so that it cuts up their bowels. )
[47:15] and,
[وَإِن
يَسْتَغِيثُواْ يُغَاثُواْ بِمَآءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى الْوجُوهَ]
(And if they ask for help, they will be granted water like boiling oil, that
will scald their faces.) [18:29] Allah's statement,
[يَتَجَرَّعُهُ]
(He will sip it unwillingly), indicates that he will hate to drink this
water, but he will be forced to sip it; he will refuse until the angel strikes
him with an iron bar,
[وَلَهُمْ مَّقَامِعُ
مِنْ حَدِيدٍ ]
(And for them are hooked rods of iron.)[22:21] Allah said next,
[وَلاَ يَكَادُ
يُسِيغُهُ]
(and he will find great difficulty in swallowing it down his throat,)
meaning, he will hate to swallow it because of its awful taste, color and
unbearable heat or coldness,
[وَيَأْتِيهِ
الْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ]
(and death will come to him from every side,) his organs, limbs and entire
body will suffer pain because of this drink. `Amr bin Maymun bin Mahran
commented, "Every bone, nerve and blood vessel.'' Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn
`Abbas commented on Allah's statement,
[وَيَأْتِيهِ
الْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ]
(and death will come to him from every side,) "All types of torment that
Allah will punish him with on the Day of Resurrection in the fire of Jahannam
will come to him carrying death, if he were to die. However, he will not die
because Allah the Exalted said,
[لاَ يُقْضَى
عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُواْ وَلاَ يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا]
(Neither will it affect them that they die nor shall its torment be lightened
for them)[35:36].'' Therefore, according to Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased
with him and his father, every type of punishment will come to him (the
obstinate, rebellious tyrant) carrying death with it, if he will ever die there.
Yet, he will not die, he will instead receive eternal punishment and torment.
Hence Allah's statement here,
[وَيَأْتِيهِ
الْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ]
(and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die,) Allah
said,
[وَمِن وَرَآئِهِ
عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ]
(and in front of him, will be a great torment.) even in this condition, he
will still suffer another severe type of torment, more severe and painful from
the one before it, harsher more bitter. Allah described the tree of Zaqqum,
[إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ
تَخْرُجُ فِى أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ - طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَـطِينِ -
فَإِنَّهُمْ لاّكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ - ثُمَّ إِنَّ
لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْباً مِنْ حَمِيمٍ - ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لإِلَى
الْجَحِيمِ ]
(Verily, it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, the shoots
of its fruits stalks are like the heads of Shayatin; Truly, they will eat
thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that they will be given
boiling water to drink so that it becomes a mixture. Then thereafter, verily,
their return is to the flaming fire of Hell.)[37:64-68] Allah states that they
will either be eating from the Zaqqum, drinking the Hamim, or being tormented in
the Fire, again and again; we seek refuge with Allah from all of this. Allah
also said,
[هَـذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ
الَّتِى يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ - يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ
ءَانٍ ]
(This is the Hell which the criminals denied. They will go between it (Hell)
and the fierce boiling water!)[55:43-44],
[إِنَّ شَجَرَةَ
الزَّقُّومِ - طَعَامُ الاٌّثِيمِ - كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِى فِى الْبُطُونِ - كَغَلْىِ
الْحَمِيمِ - خُذُوهُ فَاعْتِلُوهُ إِلَى سَوَآءِ الْجَحِيمِ - ثُمَّ صُبُّواْ
فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْحَمِيمِ - ذُقْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ
الْكَرِيمُ - إِنَّ هَـذَا مَا كُنتُمْ بِهِ تَمْتَرُونَ ]
(Verily, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinners. Like boiling
oil, it will boil in the bellies, like the boiling of scalding water. (It will
be said) "Seize him and drag him into the midst of blazing Fire, then pour over
his head the torment of boiling water. Taste you (this)! Verily, you were the
mighty, the generous! Verily, this is that whereof you used to
doubt!'')[44:43-50],
[وَأَصْحَـبُ
الشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَـبُ الشِّمَالِ - فِى سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ - وَظِلٍّ مِّن
يَحْمُومٍ - لاَّ بَارِدٍ وَلاَ كَرِيمٍ ]
(And those on the Left Hand - how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left
Hand In fierce hot wind and boiling water, and shadow of black smoke, neither
cool nor pleasant.)[56:41-44], and, r
[هَـذَا وَإِنَّ
لِلطَّـغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَابٍ - جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ -
هَـذَا فَلْيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٌ وَغَسَّاقٌ - وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكْلِهِ أَزْوَجٌ
]
(This is so! And for the Taghun will be an evil final return. Hell! Where
they will burn, and worst is that place to rest! This is so! Then let them taste
it Hamim and Ghassaq. And other (torments) of similar kind all
together!)[38:55-58] There are many other similar Ayat that indicate that the
punishment they will receive is of different kinds, and that it is repeated in
various types and forms that only Allah the Exalted knows, as just recompense,
[وَمَا رَبُّكَ
بِظَلَّـمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ]
(And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves.) [41:46]
[مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي
يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ لاَّ يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُواْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ ذلِكَ هُوَ
الضَّلاَلُ الْبَعِيدُ ]
(18. The parable of those who disbelieved in their Lord is that their works
are as ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day; they shall not
be able to get aught of what they have earned. That is the straying, far away
(from the right path).)