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
وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ
And We did not destroy any city except that it had warners
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
If you could but see when they will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will [then] say, "So taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهْدُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Other than Allāh, and guide them to the path of Hellfire
مِثْلَ دَأْبِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ظُلْمًا لِّلْعِبَادِ
Like the custom of the people of Noah and of ʿAad and Thamūd and those after them. And Allāh wants no injustice for [His] servants.