إِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ فِيهَا سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ 7
Translations
When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.
Transliteration
Idha ulqoo feeha samiu'u laha shaheeqan wa hiya tafoor
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the inhabitants of Hell are cast into it and hear its roaring sound while it boils and seethes with intense heat. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'shaheeq' (shrieking/roaring sound) represents the terrible noise of Hellfire itself, and 'tafoor' (boiling/bursting forth) depicts the violent turbulence of the flames. The ayah emphasizes the sensory horror of Hell—both auditory and visual—to convey the severity of divine punishment for those who reject faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Mulk, a Meccan surah focused on Allah's sovereignty and the reality of the Afterlife. The broader context (verses 1-11) describes the creation and the fate of disbelievers, serving as a warning to the Meccan polytheists about the consequences of their rejection of the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The fire complained to its Lord saying: O my Lord, my parts consume one another. So Allah allowed it to breathe twice—once in winter and once in summer' (Sahih Bukhari 3260). Additionally, Tirmidhi records that the Prophet warned about the intensity of Hell's heat and its roaring.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder of the reality and severity of Hell, encouraging believers to take their faith seriously and avoid deeds that lead to divine displeasure. It underscores that the consequences of rejecting truth are not merely theoretical but involve tangible, overwhelming punishment in the Afterlife.