قِيلَ ٱدْخُلُوٓا۟ أَبْوَٰبَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ 72
Translations
[To them] it will be said, "Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant."
Transliteration
Qila idkhulu abwaba jahannama khalidina fiha, fa-bi'sa mathwa al-mutakabbirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the entry of the arrogant into Hellfire, where they will dwell eternally. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the plural 'gates' (abwab) may indicate different levels of punishment or that they are driven into Hell from all directions, symbolizing the complete and inescapable nature of their punishment. The final phrase condemns arrogance (takabbur) as the root cause of their damnation, making Hell an evil and despicable dwelling place for those who rejected Allah's signs and exalted themselves.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan surah that extensively discusses the themes of Tawhid (monotheism), the Day of Judgment, and the consequences of arrogance and disbelief. The broader context (verses 71-72) depicts the scene on the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers and arrogant are cast into Hell, serving as a vivid warning to the Meccan idolaters who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'No one will enter Paradise who has an atom's weight of arrogance in his heart' (Sahih Muslim 91). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Arrogance is rejecting the truth and despising people' (Sahih Muslim 91), directly connecting takabbur to disbelief and rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that arrogance toward Allah and His message leads to the worst possible outcome—eternal punishment in Hell. Believers should cultivate humility before Allah, reject arrogance, and accept His signs with open hearts, recognizing that true honor lies in submission to the Divine, not in worldly pride or self-exaltation.