فَشَـٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ 55
Translations
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
Transliteration
Fa-sharābūn shurba al-hīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the punishment of the inhabitants of Hell, who will drink like thirsty camels drink water—excessively and desperately. The word 'al-hīm' (الهيم) refers to camels that are extremely thirsty and drink water greedily without moderation. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain this as depicting the insatiable thirst and torment of the hellbound, emphasizing both the physical agony and the futility of their attempts to quench their thirst, as they will be given foul and boiling liquids instead of water.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Waqi'ah, a Meccan surah that vividly depicts scenes of the Day of Judgment and the fates of different groups of people. The surah is organized around three categories: the foremost (al-sābiqūn), the righteous (aṣḥāb al-yamīn), and the deniers (aṣḥāb al-shimāl). This particular ayah describes the condition of those in Hell, providing a stark warning about the consequences of disbelief and disobedience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) described the drink of the people of Hell in Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:52, stating they will drink from the tree of Zaqqūm. Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, there are hadiths describing the thirst of the dwellers of Hell and how they will be given drinks of pus and filthy discharge, reinforcing the theme of unbearable torment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder of the severe consequences awaiting those who reject Allah's guidance and warnings in this life. It should motivate believers to seek refuge in Allah's mercy through obedience and righteous deeds, recognizing that temporary pleasures of this world pale in comparison to eternal punishment.