أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ عَنْهَا مَحِيصًا 121
Translations
The refuge of those will be Hell, and they will not find from it an escape.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika ma'wāhum jahannamu wa lā yajidūna 'anhā mahīṣā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the final destination of those who reject Allah and turn away from His guidance—their abode is Hell, and they will find no escape from it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'mahīṣ' (محيص) means no refuge, outlet, or way of escape, highlighting the absolute hopelessness and finality of their punishment. The ayah serves as a stern warning about the consequences of disbelief and turning away from divine revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes a section in Surah An-Nisa (ayah 116-121) addressing those who reject monotheism and associate partners with Allah. The broader context discusses the grave sin of shirk (polytheism) and those who persist in disbelief despite receiving guidance. This Medinan surah was revealed when the Islamic community faced opposition from both external polytheists and internal hypocrites.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever meets Allah without associating anything with Him will enter Paradise, and whoever meets Him associating partners with Him will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 93). Additionally, the Quran itself in Surah An-Nisa 4:116 emphasizes that shirk is an unforgivable sin if one dies without repenting.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that rejecting Allah's guidance and turning away from monotheism leads to irreversible consequences in the afterlife, serving as a powerful reminder to maintain steadfast faith and seek repentance before death overtakes us. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of sincere belief and avoiding any form of shirk in our relationship with Allah.
Related Ayahs
۞ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَذَبَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلصِّدْقِ إِذْ جَآءَهُۥٓ ۚ أَلَيْسَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَثْوًى لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allāh and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the disbelievers?
فَهَلْ تَرَىٰ لَهُم مِّنۢ بَاقِيَةٍ
Then do you see of them any remains?
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.
وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
But one who says to his parents, "Uff to you; do you promise me that I will be brought forth [from the earth] when generations before me have already passed on [into oblivion]?" while they call to Allāh for help [and to their son], "Woe to you! Believe! Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth." But he says, "This is not but legends of the former peoples" -