وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ يُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا يَوْمًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ 49
Translations
And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, "Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment."
Transliteration
Wa qāla alladhīna fi an-nāri li-khazanati jahannama ud'ū rabbakum yukhaffif 'annā yawman min al-'adhāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
The inhabitants of Hell plead with the angels (keepers of Hell) to call upon their Lord to reduce their punishment for even a single day. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah illustrates the desperation and regret of the people of Hell, who acknowledge Allah's power and sovereignty even in their torment, yet their plea remains unheeded because they rejected faith during their earthly life. Al-Qurtubi notes that this reflects the eternal nature of their condition—no respite is granted, demonstrating the justice of Divine punishment for those who knowingly rejected guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the broader narrative of Surah Ghafir (a Meccan surah) which contrasts the believers who call upon Allah with humility against the disbelievers who remain arrogant. The context of verses 49-50 describes the scene of the Day of Judgment, where the disbelievers' pleas are futile, serving to warn the Meccan audience about the inevitable consequences of rejecting the Message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) described the horrors of Hell in multiple ahadith. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that the people of Hell will desire to exit but will be prevented, relating to the helplessness expressed in this ayah. Additionally, various ahadith in At-Tirmidhi describe the layers of Hell and the intensity of punishment, contextualizing the desperation depicted here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that repentance and turning to Allah must occur in this life, as no relief or negotiation will be possible on the Day of Judgment for those who rejected faith. It serves as a powerful incentive for genuine tawbah (repentance) now, while opportunity remains, rather than facing eternal regret.
Related Ayahs
لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.
لَّا تَدْعُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ثُبُورًا وَٰحِدًا وَٱدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًا كَثِيرًا
[They will be told], "Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction."
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِقَآئِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَئِسُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَتِى وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And the ones who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and the meeting with Him - those have despaired of My mercy, and they will have a painful punishment.
أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.