سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ 18
Translations
We will call the angels of Hell.
Transliteration
Sanaд'u al-zabāniyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's threat to call upon the angels of punishment (zabāniyah) to seize the one who disobeys and denies the truth. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the zabāniyah are the harsh and severe angels of Hell who execute Allah's punishment, emphasizing the grave consequences of arrogance and rejection of divine guidance. This ayah serves as a powerful warning that defiance of Allah's commands will result in divine retribution.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the closing verses of Surah Al-'Alaq, which was the first chapter revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah addresses the arrogance of man who forgets his dependence on Allah and disobeys His commands. This particular ayah is directed at those who prevent the Prophet from praying and worshipping, likely referencing Abu Jahl's hostility toward the Prophet's early preaching in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The concept of zabāniyah is referenced in various hadiths about the punishment of the Fire. See Sahih Muslim's hadith about the angels of Hell being described as harsh and severe in their execution of divine punishment. Additionally, hadiths in Sahih Bukhari describe the consequences awaiting those who reject divine guidance and persist in defiance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that resistance to Allah's will and persistent disobedience carry serious consequences, serving as both a deterrent to wrongdoing and an encouragement toward submission to divine commands. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of humility, obedience, and respect for the boundaries set by Allah, knowing that accountability is inevitable.
Related Ayahs
يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ
He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.
وَإِنَّ ٱلْفُجَّارَ لَفِى جَحِيمٍ
And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire.
يَوْمَ يَغْشَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said, "Taste [the result of] what you used to do."
فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ
Then look how was the end of those who were warned -