سَأُرْهِقُهُۥ صَعُودًا 17
Translations
I will cover him with arduous torment.
Transliteration
Sa-urhiquhu sa'uuda
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the punishment and torment that will befall those who reject faith and disobey Allah. The word 'sa'ud' (صعود) means a difficult, steep ascent or climbing, used metaphorically to describe the severe and escalating punishment awaiting the disbelievers. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as referring specifically to the torment in Hellfire, where the condemned will face ever-increasing and overwhelming punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Muddaththir, which was revealed in the early Meccan period. The surah addresses those who mock and reject the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the message of Islam. Verse 17 is part of a passage describing the fate of a specific disbeliever (often interpreted as Walid ibn al-Mughirah) who rejected the Quran and opposed the Prophet.
Related Hadiths
The concept of increasing punishment is referenced in various hadiths about the levels of Hellfire. See Sahih Muslim's chapters on the descriptions of Paradise and Hellfire, which discuss how punishment intensifies for those with greater knowledge and rejection of truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a stern reminder that rejecting Allah's guidance and His signs has serious consequences that grow progressively worse. It encourages believers to reflect on the importance of accepting divine guidance with humility and to fear Allah's punishment, which should motivate righteous conduct and sincere faith.
Related Ayahs
سَنُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ بِمَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allāh of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرُونَ
Those are the ones for whom there will be the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter they are the greatest losers.
فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلطُّوفَانَ وَٱلْجَرَادَ وَٱلْقُمَّلَ وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ وَٱلدَّمَ ءَايَـٰتٍ مُّفَصَّلَـٰتٍ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ
Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe -