Ad-Dukhan · Ayah 47

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

Divine JusticePunishment in the AfterlifeConsequences of DisbeliefThe Day of JudgmentAngelic Execution of Divine Will

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.

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Related Ayahs

28:47Al-Qasas

وَلَوْلَآ أَن تُصِيبَهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, "Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?"...

3:61Ali 'Imran

فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ

Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allāh upon the liars [among us]."

23:95Al-Mu'minun

وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّرِيَكَ مَا نَعِدُهُمْ لَقَـٰدِرُونَ

And indeed, We are Able to show you what We have promised them.

37:82As-Saffat

ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ

Then We drowned the others [i.e., disbelievers].