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
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, "Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.
لِّلطَّـٰغِينَ مَـَٔابًا
For the transgressors, a place of return,
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا ءَاخَرِينَ
Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established upon the earth as We have not established you? And We sent [rain from] the sky upon them in showers and made rivers flow beneath them; then We destroyed them for their sins and brought forth after them a generation of others.