إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ ۚ وَلِذَٰلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ ۗ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ 119
Translations
Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them. But the word of your Lord is to be fulfilled that, "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together."
Transliteration
Illa man rahima rabbuka wa lidhalika khalaqahum wa tammat kalimatu rabbika la-amla'anna jahannama mina al-jinnati wa-al-nasi ajma'in
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the discussion about the Day of Judgment by stating that except for those whom Allah's mercy encompasses, Hell will be filled with both jinn and humans collectively. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing Allah's predetermined decree (qadar) that the majority will be punished, while His mercy is reserved for the believers who submit to His will. The phrase 'and for this He created them' indicates that Allah created creation with knowledge of their ultimate destinies—some for Paradise through His mercy, and others for Hellfire as a consequence of their choices and disbelief.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Hud, which discusses the stories of various prophets and their peoples' rejection. It contextualizes the fate of those who refuse guidance, serving as a warning to the Meccan polytheists who rejected Prophet Muhammad's message. The surah emphasizes that Allah's justice is absolute and His warnings throughout history are consistent.
Related Hadiths
The hadith reported by Muslim from Anas ibn Malik states that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Every soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back,' which relates to the individual accountability mentioned in this context. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari about the 70,000 from this Ummah entering Paradise without reckoning connects to the concept of Allah's mercy mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Allah's punishment is certain for those who reject Him, His mercy remains the pathway to salvation for those who believe and submit. It serves as both a warning against arrogance and disbelief, and a hopeful reminder that seeking Allah's mercy through faith and righteous deeds is always possible in this life.