يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍ ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌ 17
Translations
He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.
Transliteration
Yatajarra'uhu wa la yakādu yusīghuhu wa ya'tīhi al-mawtu min kulli makānin wa mā huwa bi-mayyit wa min warā'ihi 'adhābun ghalīz
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the torment of the people of Hell, where they are forced to drink a repulsive fluid that they can barely swallow, experiencing death from all directions yet unable to actually die. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this depicts the continuous cycle of excruciating punishment—the drink (likely pus from the wounds of the inhabitants of Hell) is so foul that they struggle to consume it, yet they must, and death eludes them despite their desire for it. Beyond this immediate torment awaits even greater punishment, emphasizing the unimaginable severity of the Hellfire for those who reject Allah's signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ibrahim, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's oneness, the reality of the Hereafter, and the consequences of disbelief. It appears in the context of detailed descriptions of the punishment awaiting the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, serving as a warning to the Quraysh and all who reject the message of the prophets.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The people of the Fire will wish to be ransomed from it with the best things on earth' (Sahih Muslim 2766). Additionally, in Surah Al-Hajj 22:20, the Quran describes how the skin of the people of Hell is renewed so they may taste the punishment repeatedly, which complements the theme of endless, inescapable torment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder of the eternal consequences of rejecting Allah's guidance and the gravity of one's choices in this life. For believers, it reinforces the importance of sincere faith and obedience, while warning against complacency and the deception that worldly life is all that matters.