إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا 169
Translations
Except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.
Transliteration
Illa tareeqa jahannama khalideena feeha abada, wa kana dhalika alallahi yaseeran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inevitable destination of those who reject Allah and His signs—the path to Hellfire where they will remain eternally. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah warns of the consequences of disbelief and disobedience, while the phrase 'wa kana dhalika ala-illahi yaseeran' (and that is easy for Allah) underscores Allah's absolute power and the certainty of His divine justice in fulfilling His warnings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nisa (Medinan), which addresses various aspects of faith, law, and morality. The broader context discusses those who reject faith and the consequences they face, serving as a warning to the Muslim community about steadfastness in belief and obedience to Allah's commandments.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The people of Paradise will not feel regret for anything except the time they spent without remembering Allah.' This contrasts with the eternal regret of those in Hellfire. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the gates of Paradise and Hell, emphasizing the reality of both destinations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the serious consequences of rejecting divine guidance and the importance of sincere faith and righteous action in this life. It should inspire both fear of Allah's punishment and hope in His mercy for those who turn to Him in obedience.