خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ 107
Translations
[They will be] abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will. Indeed, your Lord is an effecter of what He intends.
Transliteration
Khālidīna fīhā mā dāmat al-samāwātu wa-al-arḍu illā mā shāʾa rabbuk. Inna rabbaka faʿʿālun li-mā yurīd.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah discusses the eternity of the people of Hell, stating they will remain in punishment as long as the heavens and earth exist, except for what Allah wills. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret the exception clause (illā mā shāʾa rabbuk) as referring to Allah's absolute power and will over all creation, emphasizing that nothing occurs except by His decree. The ayah affirms that Allah is the All-Powerful Doer of whatever He intends, establishing His complete sovereignty over duration of punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism and divine justice. It comes within the context of Quranic descriptions of the Hereafter and divine accountability, reinforcing themes of accountability for one's deeds and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the eternality of Paradise and Hell, with Paradise having no end and Hell having no end. The hadith in Sunan At-Tirmidhi regarding the Prophet's statement about the duration of the afterlife states that whatever Allah wills shall occur according to His perfect knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us of Allah's absolute control over all matters and the seriousness of our choices in this life, as they have eternal consequences. It should inspire believers to seek Allah's mercy, obey His commands, and reflect on the gravity of accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا وَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ
Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.
وَلَئِن شِئْنَا لَنَذْهَبَنَّ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ بِهِۦ عَلَيْنَا وَكِيلًا
And if We willed, We could surely do away with that which We revealed to you. Then you would not find for yourself concerning it an advocate against Us.
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Unquestionably, the promise of Allāh is truth, but most of them do not know.