لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥ ۚ يَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ 16
Translations
They will have canopies [i.e., layers] of fire above them and below them, canopies. By that Allāh threatens [i.e., warns] His servants. O My servants, then fear Me.
Transliteration
Lahum min fawqihim zulalun minan-nari wa min tahtihim zulalun. Dhaliка yukhawwifu Allahu bih ibadahu. Ya ibadi fattaqun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the punishment of those who associate partners with Allah in the Hellfire, where they will be surrounded by flames both above and below them, trapped in layers of fire. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'shades of fire' (zulal) represent the overwhelming and inescapable nature of their torment, emphasizing that divine punishment is total and comprehensive. The verse concludes with Allah's exhortation to His servants to fear Him and maintain piety, using the graphic imagery of Hell as a means of warning and motivation toward righteous conduct.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism and warns against shirk (associating partners with Allah). The broader context discusses those who turn away from Allah's signs and associate partners with Him, and this specific verse uses vivid imagery of Hellfire as a divine warning to inspire fear of Allah and adherence to tawhid.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Muslim: 'The fire of the children of Adam which they kindle is to the fire of Hell as a bucket dipped into the sea compared to it.' This hadith reinforces the ayah's emphasis on the incomparable severity of Hell's punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that fear of Allah and awareness of the consequences of disobedience should motivate us toward piety and monotheism; the vivid imagery of punishment is not meant to inspire despair but to awaken our conscience and strengthen our commitment to worshipping Allah alone.