خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ 162
Translations
Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
Transliteration
Khalideen feeha, la yukhaffafu anhumu al-adhab wa la hum yunzaroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the eternal punishment of those who disbelieve, stating they will remain in Hell forever without any reduction or respite from their torment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'khalideen' (eternally abiding) is a definitive description of the disbelievers' state, and the dual negation—neither lightening of punishment nor postponement—underscores the absolute nature of their torment as a consequence of rejecting divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the Day of Judgment and the fates of believers and disbelievers. It follows the description of those who reject faith and broken covenants, serving as a severe warning about the consequences of persistent disbelief and heedlessness of God's signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The people of Hell will not die, and the people of Paradise will not die' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the eternity of Paradise and Hell reinforces the concept of 'khalud' (eternal abiding) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a profound reminder that rejection of divine truth carries ultimate and irreversible consequences, encouraging believers to cherish their faith and reflect deeply on accountability. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of sincere belief and repentance while in this life, before the opportunity for change is forever closed.
Related Ayahs
بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلْكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَـٰرُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."
وَإِذْ وَٰعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰٓ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذْتُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَنتُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ
And [recall] when We made an appointment with Moses for forty nights. Then you took [for worship] the calf after him [i.e., his departure], while you were wrongdoers.
تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
That is a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.