لَا تُبْقِى وَلَا تَذَرُ 28
Translations
It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing [unburned],
Transliteration
Lā tubqī wa lā tadharu
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of Hellfire (Jahannam), stating that it 'neither leaves anything uneaten nor does it spare anything.' Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this emphasizes the consuming, all-encompassing nature of the Fire—it devours everything cast into it without mercy or remainder. The verse conveys the terrifying reality of divine punishment and serves as a stark warning to those who reject faith.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Muddaththir is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Prophet Muhammad's mission. This particular ayah appears in a section describing the Day of Judgment and Hellfire, forming part of the surah's powerful message about accountability and the consequences of disbelief. The context emphasizes the certainty and severity of the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Hellfire: 'The fire of Hell is 69 times hotter than the fires of this world' (Sahih Bukhari 3265). Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, there are descriptions of Hell's intensity that correlate with the Quranic descriptions of its all-consuming nature.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the serious consequences of rejecting divine guidance and encourages sincere repentance and obedience to Allah in this life. For modern readers, it serves as a profound spiritual reminder that our choices have eternal consequences, motivating us toward righteousness and fear of Allah.
Related Ayahs
فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allāh upon the liars [among us]."
إِنَّ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ فِى عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدُونَ
Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding eternally.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ
And what can make you know what is ʿilliyyūn?
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.