وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُوا۟ عَلَيْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 50
Translations
And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allāh has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers
Transliteration
Wa nadā aṣḥābu an-nāri aṣḥāba al-jannati an afīḍū ʿalaynā mina al-māʾi aw mimmā razaqakumu Allāhu. Qālū inna Allāha ḥarramahumā ʿalā al-kāfirīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a scene from the Day of Judgment where the inhabitants of Hell desperately cry out to the inhabitants of Paradise, begging for water or sustenance. The people of Paradise respond by reminding them that Allah has forbidden both water and provisions to the disbelievers as punishment for their rejection of faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this illustrates the absolute barrier between Paradise and Hell, and the justice of Allah's decree—those who rejected His signs in the dunya (worldly life) cannot receive His mercy in the hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-A'raf's extended description of the scenes of Judgment Day and the states of the blessed and the damned. It is part of a broader Meccan surah addressing the reality of the afterlife to strengthen the believers and warn the disbelievers of the consequences of rejecting Allah's message during the period when the Prophet Muhammad faced intense opposition in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) described the thirst of the inhabitants of Hell in various hadiths. A related narration in Sahih Bukhari describes the punishment of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, emphasizing their deprivation. Additionally, hadiths on the barriers between Paradise and Hell (Al-Araf) support the theme of separation mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that our choices in this life have eternal consequences; rejecting Allah's guidance today means being deprived of His mercy tomorrow. It should inspire believers to be grateful for Allah's blessings and to have compassion for those still in disbelief, while understanding that ultimate justice belongs to Allah alone.