إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَٰرِدُونَ 98
Translations
Indeed, you [disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allāh are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to [enter] it.
Transliteration
Innakum wa-ma ta'buduna min duni-Allah hasabu jahannam antum laha wardiun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that the polytheists and their false gods/idols will all become fuel for Hell, and they themselves will enter it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'hasab' (fuel/kindling) refers to what feeds and sustains the fire, emphasizing the absolute destruction of both the worshippers and the worshipped. The ayah stresses that no false deity—whether angels, saints, idols, or other creations worshipped besides Allah—can save its followers from punishment on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Anbiya, which discusses various prophets and themes of monotheism versus polytheism. It is addressed to the Meccan polytheists who worshipped idols and created partners with Allah, serving as a stern warning of the consequences of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter Hell,' (Sahih Muslim 93). Additionally, the Prophet warned about the fate of idols and their worshippers on the Day of Judgment in various traditions found in Sunan Ibn Majah and Jami' at-Tirmidhi.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no created being—whether revered figures or inanimate idols—can intercede or protect those who associate them with Allah in worship. Muslims must ensure their worship is solely directed to Allah alone, as the Day of Judgment will expose the emptiness of all false devotions and their adherents will face severe consequences.
Related Ayahs
خُلِقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِنْ عَجَلٍ ۚ سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِى فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونِ
Man was created of haste [i.e., impatience]. I will show you My signs [i.e., vengeance], so do not impatiently urge Me.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقُلْ ءَاذَنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ ۖ وَإِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ
But if they turn away, then say, "I have announced to [all of] you equally. And I know not whether near or far is that which you are promised.
قُلْ مَن يَكْلَؤُكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۗ بَلْ هُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Say, "Who can protect you at night or by day from the Most Merciful?" But they are, from the remembrance of their Lord, turning away.
إِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْجَهْرَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْتُمُونَ
Indeed, He knows what is declared of speech, and He knows what you conceal.