Here Allah says: `O Muhammad, this that We have described to you about the
state of those who are doomed, who will be dragged on their faces to Hell, which
will receive them with a scowling face, with hatred and moans. There they will
be thrown into their constricted spaces, tied up to their shoulders, unable to
move or call for help, and unable to escape their plight --- is this better, or
the eternal Paradise which Allah has promised to the pious among His servants,
which He has prepared for them as a reward and ultimate destiny in return for
their obedience to Him in this world'
[لَّهُمْ فِيهَا مَا
يَشَآءُونَ]
(For them there will be therein all that they desire,) of delights such as
food, drink, clothing, dwellings, means of transportation and scenery, and other
things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor the heart of anyone can
comprehend. They will abide therein forever; it will never cease or come to an
end, and they will never leave it. This is what Allah has promised to those whom
He has blessed and to whom He has shown His favor. He says:
[كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ
وَعْداً مَّسْئُولاً]
(It is a upon your Lord a Wa`dan Mas'ula) meaning, it must inevitably come to
pass. Abu Ja`far bin Jarir reported from some of the scholars of the Arabic
language that the words
[وَعْداً
مَّسْئُولاً]
(Wa`dan Mas'ula) mean: a binding pledge. In this Surah Allah mentions Hell,
then refers to the situation of the people of Paradise. This is similar to the
passage in Surat As-Saffat where Allah mentions the status of the people of
Paradise, with its beauty and joy, then He says:
[أَذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ
نُّزُلاً أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ - إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـهَا فِتْنَةً
لِّلظَّـلِمِينَ - 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 - إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْاْ ءَابَآءَهُمْ
ضَآلِّينَ - فَهُمْ عَلَى ءَاثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ ]
:(Is that better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum Truly, We have made it a
trial for the wrongdoers. Verily, it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of
Hellfire, The shoots of its fruit stalks are like the heads of Shayatin. Truly,
they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on the 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. Verily, they
found their fathers on the wrong path. So they hastened in their footsteps!)
(37:62-70)
[وَيَوْمَ
يَحْشُرُهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَقُولُ أَءَنتُمْ
أَضْلَلْتُمْ عِبَادِى هَـؤُلاَءِ أَمْ هُمْ ضَلُّوا السَّبِيلَ - قَالُواْ
سُبْحَـنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ
وَلَـكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّى نَسُواْ الذِّكْرَ وَكَانُواْ
قَوْماً بُوراً - فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوكُمْ بِمَا تَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ
صَرْفاً وَلاَ نَصْراً وَمَن يَظْلِم مِّنكُمْ نُذِقْهُ عَذَاباً كَبِيراً ]
(17. And on the Day when He will gather them together and that which they
worship besides Allah. He will say: "Was it you who misled these My servants or
did they stray from the path'') (18. They will say: "Glorified be You! It was
not for us to take any Awliya' besides You, but You gave them and their fathers
comfort till they forgot the warning, and became a lost people.'') (19. Thus
they will deny you in what you say; then you can neither avert nor find help.
And whoever among you does wrong, We shall make him taste a great torment.)