دُحُورًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ 9
Translations
Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment,
Transliteration
Duhūran wa lahum `adhābun wāṣib
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the repulsion (duhūr) cast upon the devils who attempt to eavesdrop on the heavens, and their punishment of a lasting, continuous torment (adhāb wāṣib). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'duhūr' refers to the stones and shooting stars (shihāb) that drive away the devils, while 'wāṣib' (ever-lasting) emphasizes the relentless nature of their punishment in this life and the next. This is part of the broader narrative establishing divine protection of the heavenly realm from satanic interference.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat's discussion of the cosmic order and divine authority, specifically in the passage (37:6-10) describing how Allah has adorned the lower heaven with stars and protected it from rebellious devils. The context is Meccan, addressing polytheists who attributed divine knowledge to the jinn and devils, thereby refuting their false beliefs about unseen matters.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Surah Al-Jinn (72:8-9) where Allah describes the protection of the heavens: 'We have sought to reach the heaven, but found it filled with mighty guards and burning flames.' Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the Prophet's account of how devils are repelled from hearing divine revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah has established a perfect cosmic order with impenetrable boundaries, protecting sacred knowledge from satanic corruption, which should strengthen our trust in Allah's wisdom and encourage us to seek guidance only from the Quran and Sunnah rather than superstitious beliefs about the unseen.