7. Al-A'raaf

Verily, those who belie Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of the heavens will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the Jamal goes through the eye of the needle. Thus do We recompense the criminals (40)Theirs will be Mihad from the Fire, and over them Ghawash. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers (41)

Doors of Heaven shall not open for Those Who deny Allah's Ayat, and They shall never enter Paradise

Allah said,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ

(for them the gates of the heavens will not be opened,) meaning, their good deeds and supplication will not ascend through it, according to Mujahid, Sa'id bin Jubayr and Ibn 'Abbas, as Al-'Awfi and 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from him. Ath-Thawri narrated that, Layth said that 'Ata' narrated this from Ibn 'Abbas. It was also said that the meaning here is that the doors of the heavens will not be opened for the disbelievers' souls, according to Ad-Dahhak who reported this from Ibn 'Abbas. As-Suddi and several others mentioned this meaning. What further supports this meaning, is the report from Ibn Jarir that Al-Bara' said that the Messenger of Allah mentioned capturing the soul of the 'Fajir' (wicked sinner or disbeliever), and that his or her soul will be ascended to heaven. The Prophet ﷺ said,

فَيَصْعَدُونَ بِهَا، فَلَا تَمُرُّ عَلَى مَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا مَا هَذِهِ الرُّوحُ الْخَبِيثَةُ؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: فُلَانٌ بِأَقْبَحِ أَسْمَائِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُدْعَى بِهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا، حَتَّى يَنْتَهَوا بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيَسْتَفْتَحُونَ بَابَهَا لَهُ فَلَا يَفْتَحُ لَهُ

(So they (angels) ascend it and it will not pass by a gathering of the angels, but they will ask, who's wicked soul is this' They will reply, 'The soul of so-and-so,' calling him by the worst names he was called in this life. When they reach the (lower) heaven, they will ask that its door be opened for the soul, but it will not be opened for it.)

The Prophet ﷺ then recited,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ

(For them the gates of heaven will not be opened).

This is a part of a long Hadith which was also recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.

Ibn Jurayj commented on the Ayah,

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ

(for them the gates of heaven will not be opened,) "(The gates of heaven) will not be opened for their deeds or souls." This explanation combines the two meanings we gave above, and Allah knows best. Allah's statement,

وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ

(and they will not enter Paradise until the Jamal goes through the eye of the needle.) refers to the male camel. Ibn Mas'ud said it is a male camel from the she camel. In another narration it refers to the spouse of the she camel. Mujahid and 'Ikrimah said that Ibn 'Abbas used to recite this Ayah this way, "Until the Jummal goes through the eye of the needle", whereas 'Jummal' is a thick rope. Allah's statement,

لَهُم مِّن جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ

(Theirs will be Mihad from the Fire) means, beds, while;

وَمِن فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍ

(and over them Ghawash), means, coverings, according to Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi. Similar was said by Ad-Dahhak …

But those who believed, and worked righteousness – We burden not any person beyond his scope – such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein (42)And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill; rivers flowing under them, and they will say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth." And it will be cried out to them: "This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do. (43)

Destination of Righteous Believers

After Allah mentioned the condition of the miserable ones, He then mentioned the condition of the happy ones, saying,

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ

(But those who believed, and worked righteousness)

Their hearts have believed and they performed good deeds with their limbs and senses, as compared to those who disbelieved in the Ayat of Allah and were arrogant with them. Allah also said that embracing faith and implementing it are easy, when He said,

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ - وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ

(But those who believed, and worked righteousness – We burden not any person beyond his scope – such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein. And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill;) meaning, envy and hatred. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

إِذَا خَلَصَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ حُبِسُوا عَلَى قَنْطَرَةٍ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ فَاقْتُصَّ لَهُمْ مَظَالِمَ كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى إِذَا هُذِّبُوا وَنُقُّوا أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي دُخُولِ الْجَنَّةِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ بِمَنْزِلِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَدَلُّ مِنْهُ بِمَسْكَنِهِ كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا

(After the believers are saved from entering the Fire, they will be kept in wait by a bridge between Paradise and Hellfire. Then, transgression that occurred between them in the life of this world will be judged. Until, when they are purified and cleansed, they will be given permission to enter Paradise. By He in Whose Hand is my soul! One of them will be able to find his dwelling in Paradise more so than he did in the life of this world.) As-Suddi said about Allah's statement,

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ

(And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill; rivers flowing under them,)

"When the people of Paradise are taken to it, they will find a tree close to its door, and two springs from under the trunk of that tree. They will drink from one of them, and all hatred will be removed from their hearts, for it is the cleansing drink. They will take a bath in the other, and the brightness of delight will radiate from their faces. Ever after, they will never have messy hair or become dirty."

An-Nasa'i and Ibn Marduwyah (this being his wording) recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

كُلُّ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَرَى مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، فَيَقُولُ: لَوْلَا أَنَّ …

But those who believed, and worked righteousness – We burden not any person beyond his scope – such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein (42)And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill; rivers flowing under them, and they will say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth." And it will be cried out to them: "This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do. (43)

Destination of Righteous Believers

After Allah mentioned the condition of the miserable ones, He then mentioned the condition of the happy ones, saying,

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ

(But those who believed, and worked righteousness)

Their hearts have believed and they performed good deeds with their limbs and senses, as compared to those who disbelieved in the Ayat of Allah and were arrogant with them. Allah also said that embracing faith and implementing it are easy, when He said,

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ - وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ

(But those who believed, and worked righteousness – We burden not any person beyond his scope – such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein. And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill;) meaning, envy and hatred. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

إِذَا خَلَصَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنَ النَّارِ حُبِسُوا عَلَى قَنْطَرَةٍ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ فَاقْتُصَّ لَهُمْ مَظَالِمَ كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى إِذَا هُذِّبُوا وَنُقُّوا أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي دُخُولِ الْجَنَّةِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ بِمَنْزِلِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَدَلُّ مِنْهُ بِمَسْكَنِهِ كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا

(After the believers are saved from entering the Fire, they will be kept in wait by a bridge between Paradise and Hellfire. Then, transgression that occurred between them in the life of this world will be judged. Until, when they are purified and cleansed, they will be given permission to enter Paradise. By He in Whose Hand is my soul! One of them will be able to find his dwelling in Paradise more so than he did in the life of this world.) As-Suddi said about Allah's statement,

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ

(And We shall remove from their breasts any Ghill; rivers flowing under them,)

"When the people of Paradise are taken to it, they will find a tree close to its door, and two springs from under the trunk of that tree. They will drink from one of them, and all hatred will be removed from their hearts, for it is the cleansing drink. They will take a bath in the other, and the brightness of delight will radiate from their faces. Ever after, they will never have messy hair or become dirty."

An-Nasa'i and Ibn Marduwyah (this being his wording) recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

كُلُّ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ يَرَى مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، فَيَقُولُ: لَوْلَا أَنَّ …

And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): "We have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true what your Lord promised (warned)?" They shall say: "Yes." Then a crier will proclaim between them: "The curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers. (44)Those who hindered (men) from the path of Allah, and would seek to make it crooked, and they were disbelievers in the Hereafter (45)

People of Hellfire will feel Anguish upon Anguish

Allah mentioned how the people of the Fire will be addressed, chastised and admonished when they take their places in the Fire,

قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا قَالُوا نَعَمْ

("We (dwellers of Paradise) have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you (dwellers of Hell) also found true what your Lord promised (warned)?" They shall say: "Yes.")

In Surat As-Saffat, Allah mentioned the one who had a disbelieving companion,

فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ - قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ - وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ - أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ - إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

(So he looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire. He said: "By Allah! You have nearly ruined me. Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought forth (to Hell)." (The dwellers of Paradise will say!) "Are we then not to die (any more)? Except our first death, and we shall not be punished?")[37:55-59].

Allah will punish the disbeliever for the claims he used to utter in this life. The angels will also admonish the disbelievers, saying,

هَٰذِهِ النَّارُ الَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ - أَفَسِحْرٌ هَٰذَا أَمْ أَنتُمْ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ - اصْلَوْهَا فَاصْبِرُوا أَوْ لَا تَصْبِرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

(This is the Fire which you used to belie. Is this magic or do you not see? Taste you therein its heat and whether you are patient of it or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for what you used to do)[52:14-16].

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ admonished the inhabitants of the well at Badr:

يَا أَبَا جَهْلِ بْنَ هِشَامٍ وَيَا عُتْبَةَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ وَيَا شَيْبَةَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ - وَسَمَّى رُؤُوسَهُمْ - هَلْ وَجَدْتُمْ مَا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا فَإِنِّي وَجَدْتُ مَا وَعَدَنِي رَبِّي حَقًّا

(O Abu Jahl bin Hisham! O 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah! O Shaybah bin Rabi'ah (and he called their leaders by name)! Have you found what your Lord promised to be true (the Fire)? I certainly found what my Lord has promised me to be true (victory).)

'Umar said, "O Allah's Messenger! Do you address a people who have become rotten carrion?" He ﷺ said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا أَنْتُمْ بِأَسْمَعَ لِمَا أَقُولُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يُجِيبُوا

(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You do not hear what I am saying better than they do, but they cannot reply.) Allah's statement,

فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ بَيْنَهُمْ

(Then a crier will proclaim between them) will herald and announce,

أَن لَّعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ

(The curse of …

And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): "We have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true what your Lord promised (warned)?" They shall say: "Yes." Then a crier will proclaim between them: "The curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers. (44)Those who hindered (men) from the path of Allah, and would seek to make it crooked, and they were disbelievers in the Hereafter (45)

People of Hellfire will feel Anguish upon Anguish

Allah mentioned how the people of the Fire will be addressed, chastised and admonished when they take their places in the Fire,

قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا قَالُوا نَعَمْ

("We (dwellers of Paradise) have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you (dwellers of Hell) also found true what your Lord promised (warned)?" They shall say: "Yes.")

In Surat As-Saffat, Allah mentioned the one who had a disbelieving companion,

فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَآهُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَحِيمِ - قَالَ تَاللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرْدِينِ - وَلَوْلَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِينَ - أَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ - إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ

(So he looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire. He said: "By Allah! You have nearly ruined me. Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought forth (to Hell)." (The dwellers of Paradise will say!) "Are we then not to die (any more)? Except our first death, and we shall not be punished?")[37:55-59].

Allah will punish the disbeliever for the claims he used to utter in this life. The angels will also admonish the disbelievers, saying,

هَٰذِهِ النَّارُ الَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ - أَفَسِحْرٌ هَٰذَا أَمْ أَنتُمْ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ - اصْلَوْهَا فَاصْبِرُوا أَوْ لَا تَصْبِرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

(This is the Fire which you used to belie. Is this magic or do you not see? Taste you therein its heat and whether you are patient of it or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for what you used to do)[52:14-16].

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ admonished the inhabitants of the well at Badr:

يَا أَبَا جَهْلِ بْنَ هِشَامٍ وَيَا عُتْبَةَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ وَيَا شَيْبَةَ بْنَ رَبِيعَةَ - وَسَمَّى رُؤُوسَهُمْ - هَلْ وَجَدْتُمْ مَا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا فَإِنِّي وَجَدْتُ مَا وَعَدَنِي رَبِّي حَقًّا

(O Abu Jahl bin Hisham! O 'Utbah bin Rabi'ah! O Shaybah bin Rabi'ah (and he called their leaders by name)! Have you found what your Lord promised to be true (the Fire)? I certainly found what my Lord has promised me to be true (victory).)

'Umar said, "O Allah's Messenger! Do you address a people who have become rotten carrion?" He ﷺ said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا أَنْتُمْ بِأَسْمَعَ لِمَا أَقُولُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِنْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يُجِيبُوا

(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You do not hear what I am saying better than they do, but they cannot reply.) Allah's statement,

فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ بَيْنَهُمْ

(Then a crier will proclaim between them) will herald and announce,

أَن لَّعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ

(The curse of …

And between them will be a (barrier) screen and on Al-A'raf will be men, who would recognize all, by their marks. And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you" and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it)(46)And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers. (47)

The People of Al-A'raf

After Allah mentioned that the people of Paradise will address the people of the Fire, He stated that there is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, which prevents the people of the Fire from reaching Paradise. Ibn Jarir said, "It is the wall that Allah described,

فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ

(So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.)[57:13] It is also about Al-A'raf that Allah said,

وَعَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ

(and on Al-A'raf will be men)." Ibn Jarir recorded that As-Suddi said about Allah's statement,

وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ

(And between them will be a screen) "It is the wall, it is Al-A'raf." Mujahid said, "Al-A'raf is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, a wall that has a gate."

Ibn Jarir said, "Al-A'raf is plural for 'Urf, where every elevated piece of land is known as 'Urf to the Arabs."

As-Suddi said, "Al-A'raf is so named because its residents recognize (Ya'rifun) the people. Al-A'raf's residents are those whose good and bad deeds are equal, as Hudhayfah, Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud and several of the Salaf and later generations said." Ibn Jarir recorded that Hudhayfah was asked about the people of Al-A'raf and he said, "A people whose good and bad deeds are equal. Their evil deeds prevented them from qualifying to enter Paradise, and their good deeds qualified them to avoid the Fire. Therefore, they are stopped there on the wall until Allah judges them."

Ma'mar said that Al-Hasan recited this Ayah,

لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ

(and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).)

Then he said, "By Allah! Allah did not put this hope in their hearts, except for an honor that He intends to bestow on them." Qatadah said; "Those who hope are those among you whom Allah informed of their places." Allah said next,

وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَارُهُمْ تِلْقَاءَ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers.")

Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn 'Abbas said, "When the people of Al-A'raf look at the people of the Fire and recognize them, they will supplicate, 'O Lord! Do not place us with the people who are wrongdoers.'"

And between them will be a (barrier) screen and on Al-A'raf will be men, who would recognize all, by their marks. And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you" and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it)(46)And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers. (47)

The People of Al-A'raf

After Allah mentioned that the people of Paradise will address the people of the Fire, He stated that there is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, which prevents the people of the Fire from reaching Paradise. Ibn Jarir said, "It is the wall that Allah described,

فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ

(So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.)[57:13] It is also about Al-A'raf that Allah said,

وَعَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ

(and on Al-A'raf will be men)." Ibn Jarir recorded that As-Suddi said about Allah's statement,

وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ

(And between them will be a screen) "It is the wall, it is Al-A'raf." Mujahid said, "Al-A'raf is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, a wall that has a gate."

Ibn Jarir said, "Al-A'raf is plural for 'Urf, where every elevated piece of land is known as 'Urf to the Arabs."

As-Suddi said, "Al-A'raf is so named because its residents recognize (Ya'rifun) the people. Al-A'raf's residents are those whose good and bad deeds are equal, as Hudhayfah, Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud and several of the Salaf and later generations said." Ibn Jarir recorded that Hudhayfah was asked about the people of Al-A'raf and he said, "A people whose good and bad deeds are equal. Their evil deeds prevented them from qualifying to enter Paradise, and their good deeds qualified them to avoid the Fire. Therefore, they are stopped there on the wall until Allah judges them."

Ma'mar said that Al-Hasan recited this Ayah,

لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ

(and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).)

Then he said, "By Allah! Allah did not put this hope in their hearts, except for an honor that He intends to bestow on them." Qatadah said; "Those who hope are those among you whom Allah informed of their places." Allah said next,

وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَارُهُمْ تِلْقَاءَ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers.")

Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn 'Abbas said, "When the people of Al-A'raf look at the people of the Fire and recognize them, they will supplicate, 'O Lord! Do not place us with the people who are wrongdoers.'"

And the men on Al-A'raf will call unto the men whom they would recognize by their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you was your gathering, and your arrogance? (48)"Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy? (Behold! It has been said to them): 'Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.' (49)

Allah states that the people of Al-A'raf will admonish some of the chiefs of the idolators whom they recognize by their marks in the Fire, saying,

مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ

("Of what benefit to you was your gathering...") meaning, your great numbers,

وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

("...and your arrogance?") This Ayah means, your great numbers and wealth did not save you from Allah's torment. Rather, you are dwelling in His torment and punishment. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn 'Abbas,

أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمْتُمْ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ

(Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy?) refers to the people of Al-A'raf who will be told when Allah decrees:

ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ

((Behold! It has been said to them): "Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.")

And the men on Al-A'raf will call unto the men whom they would recognize by their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you was your gathering, and your arrogance? (48)"Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy? (Behold! It has been said to them): 'Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.' (49)

Allah states that the people of Al-A'raf will admonish some of the chiefs of the idolators whom they recognize by their marks in the Fire, saying,

مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ

("Of what benefit to you was your gathering...") meaning, your great numbers,

وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

("...and your arrogance?") This Ayah means, your great numbers and wealth did not save you from Allah's torment. Rather, you are dwelling in His torment and punishment. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn 'Abbas,

أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمْتُمْ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ

(Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy?) refers to the people of Al-A'raf who will be told when Allah decrees:

ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ

((Behold! It has been said to them): "Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.")