يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا۟ مَسَّ سَقَرَ 48
Translations
The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."
Transliteration
Yawma yushabun fi an-nari ala wujuhihim dhooqu massa saqar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the punishment of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, when they will be dragged into the Fire of Hell upon their faces, and they will be commanded to taste the torment of Saqar (Hell). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the phrase 'taste the touch of Saqar' indicates both the physical and spiritual anguish of Hell's punishment, with the dragging upon their faces symbolizing complete humiliation and degradation before their final torment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon), a Meccan surah focused on the reality of the Day of Judgment and warnings to the disbelievers. The broader context of the surah emphasizes the certainty of the Hour and the consequences of rejecting the Message, particularly addressing the Quraysh who mocked the Quran and denied resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Fire will devour the flesh but the skin will be renewed every time so that they may taste the punishment,' narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi. Also, the Prophet described Hell's severity in multiple hadiths in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim regarding the punishment of the disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a stark reminder of accountability before Allah and the serious consequences of rejecting faith and guidance; it should motivate believers to strengthen their relationship with Allah, seek His mercy, and warn others about the reality of the Afterlife with compassion and sincerity.
Related Ayahs
ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
They have been put under humiliation [by Allāh] wherever they are overtaken, except for a rope [i.e., covenant] from Allāh and a rope [i.e., treaty] from the people [i.e., the Muslims]. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allāh and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in [i.e., rejected] the verses of Allāh and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَنْ أَسْرَفَ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنۢ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَشَدُّ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ʿAad -
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place."