لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى 15
Translations
None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one
Transliteration
Lā yaslāhā illā al-ashqā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that only the most wretched and sinful (al-ashqā) will be cast into the Hellfire. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret al-ashqā as referring to those who persist in grave sins and reject the truth despite clear signs. The ayah emphasizes that entering Hell is reserved for those who reject faith and persist in disobedience, highlighting divine justice in punishment.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Layl was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam, addressing the fundamental themes of accountability and the afterlife. This ayah appears within a passage describing the contrasting fates of the righteous and the wicked on the Day of Judgment, reinforcing the Quranic theme that consequences are determined by one's spiritual state and choices.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Fire has eighty thousand gatekeepers, each with eighty thousand soldiers' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes the severity of punishment: 'The least torment in Hell is that a man will have two shoes of fire that will cause his brains to boil.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's punishment is just and measured, reserved for those who willfully reject truth and persist in transgression. It should inspire Muslims to seek repentance, avoid grave sins, and remember that sincere faith and righteous deeds are the means of salvation.
Related Ayahs
إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا۟ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍ
For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant
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].
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ
But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.