خُذُوهُ فَٱعْتِلُوهُ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ 47
Translations
[It will be commanded], "Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,
Transliteration
Khudhuhu fa'ataluhu ila sawaa' al-jahim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the angels or keepers of Hell seizing a disbeliever and dragging him toward the middle or depths of Hell. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this depicts the harsh reality of punishment in the Hereafter, emphasizing the irrevocable nature of divine justice for those who rejected faith. The phrase 'sawaa' al-jahim' (the midst/depths of Hell) conveys the severity and completeness of the punishment awaiting the deniers.
Revelation Context
Surah Ad-Dukhan is a Meccan chapter that vividly portrays scenes of the Day of Judgment and the fate of believers versus disbelievers. This particular ayah occurs within a passage describing the fate of those who rejected Allah's signs and mocked the Prophet (peace be upon him), providing vivid imagery meant to inspire fear of Allah's judgment among the Meccan audience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most merciful of my ummah toward my ummah is Abu Bakr, and the most severe in the matter of Allah is Umar' (Tirmidhi). More directly, numerous hadiths describe the severity of Hell's punishment, such as in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet described the vastness and horror of Hellfire to motivate righteousness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder of accountability before Allah and the inescapable consequences of rejecting divine guidance. Believers should use such vivid Quranic descriptions not merely to instill fear, but to strengthen resolve in obedience and cultivate genuine God-consciousness (taqwa) in daily life.
Related Ayahs
فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً ۖ فَقَدْ جَآءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَىٰهُمْ
Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly? But already there have come [some of] its indications. Then how [i.e., what good] to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
قُلْ نَعَمْ وَأَنتُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ
Say, "Yes, and you will be [rendered] contemptible."