يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا۟ مَسَّ سَقَرَ 48
Translations
The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."
Transliteration
Yawma yushabun fi an-nari ala wujuhihim dhooqu massa saqar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the punishment of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, when they will be dragged into the Fire of Hell upon their faces, and they will be commanded to taste the torment of Saqar (Hell). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the phrase 'taste the touch of Saqar' indicates both the physical and spiritual anguish of Hell's punishment, with the dragging upon their faces symbolizing complete humiliation and degradation before their final torment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon), a Meccan surah focused on the reality of the Day of Judgment and warnings to the disbelievers. The broader context of the surah emphasizes the certainty of the Hour and the consequences of rejecting the Message, particularly addressing the Quraysh who mocked the Quran and denied resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Fire will devour the flesh but the skin will be renewed every time so that they may taste the punishment,' narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi. Also, the Prophet described Hell's severity in multiple hadiths in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim regarding the punishment of the disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a stark reminder of accountability before Allah and the serious consequences of rejecting faith and guidance; it should motivate believers to strengthen their relationship with Allah, seek His mercy, and warn others about the reality of the Afterlife with compassion and sincerity.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ عَذَابًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And indeed, for those who have wronged is a punishment before that, but most of them do not know.
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ وَعَادٌۢ بِٱلْقَارِعَةِ
Thamūd and ʿAad denied the Striking Calamity [i.e., the Resurrection].
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allāh [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنۢ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.