فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ 24
Translations
Then Allāh will punish him with the greatest punishment.
Transliteration
Fa-yu'azzibhu Allahu al-'adhaba al-akbar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's punishment of the greatest magnitude inflicted upon those who reject faith and turn away from guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to the severe punishment in the Hereafter for those who persistently deny Allah's signs and reject the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The emphasis on 'al-akbar' (the greatest) underscores the unparalleled nature of divine punishment for such transgressions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Ghashiyah, a Meccan chapter that describes the Day of Judgment and contrasts the fates of the believers and disbelievers. The broader surah (verses 20-24) discusses those who turn away from the message despite witnessing clear signs, leading to this proclamation of the greatest punishment awaiting them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The fire of Hell is seventy times hotter than the fire of this world' (Sahih Bukhari 3265). Additionally, the description of hellfire's severity is extensively detailed in authentic hadiths regarding the punishment of the Hereafter.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a stern reminder of the gravity of rejecting divine guidance and the eternal consequences that await those who persistently turn away from truth. For believers, it reinforces the importance of remaining steadfast in faith and warns against complacency or arrogance that might distance one from Allah's mercy.
Related Ayahs
سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ
We will attend to you, O prominent beings.
نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌۢ
It is a Fire, intensely hot.
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
So who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allāh or denies His signs? Indeed, the criminals will not succeed.