إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتْ مِرْصَادًا 21
Translations
Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait
Transliteration
Inna jahannama kanat mirsadan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Hell (Jahannam) was prepared as an ambush or place of waiting for the disbelievers. The word 'mirsad' (مِرْصَاد) means a place of observation or waiting in ambush, emphasizing that Hell is actively prepared and waiting for those who reject Allah's guidance. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this as a warning that Hell is not a place of chance or accident, but rather a determined consequence for those who turn away from faith.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Naba is a Meccan surah that discusses the Day of Judgment and the fate of believers and disbelievers. This ayah appears in the section describing the punishment of disbelievers on the Day of Resurrection, serving as a stark reminder within the broader eschatological theme of the surah about the certainty of divine justice and accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Hell: 'The fire complained to its Lord saying, O my Lord, my different parts eat up one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in winter and one in summer' (Sahih Bukhari 3260). This hadith complements the ayah by illustrating the reality and severity of Hell's punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that divine punishment is not arbitrary but a prepared consequence for rejecting truth, urging us to take warnings seriously and maintain firm faith. It should instill both fear of Allah's justice and gratitude for His mercy toward the believers.