إِلَّا مَنْ هُوَ صَالِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ 163
Translations
Except he who is to [enter and] burn in the Hellfire.
Transliteration
Illa man huwa saali al-jaheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states an exception: "except those who are in the blazing fire." In the context of Surah As-Saffat (verses 158-166), this refers to the angels who are not subject to Allah's command to prostrate to Adam, with the exception being those angels who will be cast into Hell for their disobedience. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as referring to Iblis and his followers among the jinn, who refused to obey Allah's command and thus became inhabitants of the Fire. The ayah emphasizes that even the rebellious creation cannot escape Allah's divine justice and predetermined fate.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah As-Saffat, which discusses the arrangement of angels and the Day of Judgment. It is part of a broader narrative about Allah's command to the angels to prostrate before Adam, and those who disobeyed (namely Iblis). The thematic context centers on obedience to Allah, the punishment for rebellion, and the certainty of divine judgment.
Related Hadiths
The refusal of Iblis to prostrate is referenced in Sahih Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah, where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained that Iblis was from the jinn and disobeyed Allah's command, thereby becoming accursed. Additionally, Surah Al-Kahf (18:50) explicitly identifies Iblis as being from the jinn rather than the angels.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no creature, regardless of their station, can escape the consequences of disobeying Allah's commands. For modern readers, it serves as a cautionary lesson about the dangers of pride and the importance of humble submission to divine guidance, as exemplified by the contrast between the obedient angels and the rebellious Iblis.