إِذَا رَأَتْهُم مِّن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا تَغَيُّظًا وَزَفِيرًا 12
Translations
When it [i.e., the Hellfire] sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring.
Transliteration
Idha ra'at-hum min makānin ba'īd sami'ū laha taghayyuẓan wa-zafīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Hellfire's response upon seeing the disbelievers from a distance—it emits sounds of fury (taghayyuẓ) and groaning (zafīr), depicting the vehemence of their punishment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this vivid imagery illustrates that Hell itself reacts with rage and anguish at the arrival of those who rejected Allah's signs, emphasizing the intensity and totality of the punishment awaiting the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (the Criterion), a Meccan surah that emphasizes divine justice and the consequences of denying the Message. The broader context describes the scene of Judgment Day when the disbelievers will be thrust into Hell, and this particular verse illustrates the graphic reality of their destination, serving to warn the Meccans of the inevitable accountability before Allah.
Related Hadiths
Related to themes of Hellfire's intensity: Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The fire of the children of Adam which they kindle is one of seventy parts of the fire of Hell,' emphasizing Hell's unimaginable severity. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains descriptions of Hell's sounds and manifestations, reinforcing this ayah's depiction of Hell as a conscious, reactive punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the serious reality of the Afterlife and that rejection of truth carries immense consequences, motivating sincere repentance and devotion to Allah in this life. It also underscores that Allah's justice is absolute and inescapable—a sobering call to mindfulness of one's deeds and relationship with the Creator.
Related Ayahs
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
وَيَوْمَ يُعْرَضُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will say, "Then taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًى شَيْـًٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
The Day when no relation will avail a relation at all, nor will they be helped -
يَوْمَ تَمُورُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ مَوْرًا
On the Day the heaven will sway with circular motion