إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَـٰهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا 56
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses - We will drive them into a fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo bi-ayatina sawfa nuslihim naran kullama nadijat juluduhum baddalnahu jludan ghayrahha liyadhooqu al-adhab. Inna Allaha kana azizan hakiman.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the severe punishment of those who reject Allah's signs in the Hellfire, where their skin will be continuously burned and replaced so they perpetually experience the torment anew. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this renewal of skin serves both as a form of intensified punishment and as a means for the disbelievers to taste the full extent of their suffering, demonstrating Allah's perfect justice. The concluding phrase affirms that Allah is All-Mighty and All-Wise in His judgment, making this punishment a fitting consequence for rejection of divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nisa, a Medinan surah revealed after the migration to Medina. While no specific occasion (asbab al-nuzul) is definitively recorded for this particular verse, it contextually addresses the consequences of disbelief and rejection of Allah's revelations, themes particularly relevant as the Muslim community solidified its distinct identity in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger has indeed been guided to a straight path,' emphasizing the contrast with those who reject guidance (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The Fire will consume the flesh but the skin will be renewed so that the punishment may be tasted forever' is referenced in various tafsir works discussing the nature of hellish punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of rejecting divine guidance and the serious consequences that await disbelievers. For believers, it reinforces the importance of maintaining faith and adhering to Allah's signs, while highlighting that true justice involves accountability proportionate to one's rejection of truth.