بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
An-Naba 78:21
The Tidings · Juz 30 · Page 582
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتۡ مِرۡصَادٗا ٢١
Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 78:21
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتْ مِرْصَادًا (Surely Jahannam [ the Hell ] is set in ambush. 78:21). The word mirsad means 'an ambush' or 'lying in wait to attack unawares' or 'a secret position for surprise attack'. Here Hell refers to the bridge of Hell. The angels of reward and punishment will lie in wait. The angels of punishment will make a surprise attack on the inmates of Hell, and the angels of reward will lie in wait to accompany the inmates of Paradise and take them to their abode. [ Mazhari ]
Sayyidna Hasan Basri (رح) said that there will be an outpost of guardian angels on the bridge of Hell. If anyone has a permit to enter Paradise, he will be permitted to enter; but if anyone does not have the permit to enter Paradise, he will be prevented from entering it. [ Qurtubi ]
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78:1
عَمَّ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ١
About what are they asking one another?
78:2
عَنِ ٱلنَّبَإِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٢
About the great news1 -
1 translator’s note
- i.e., the Resurrection. ↩
78:3
ٱلَّذِي هُمۡ فِيهِ مُخۡتَلِفُونَ ٣
That over which they are in disagreement.
78:4
كـَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ ٤
No! They are going to know.
78:5
ثُمَّ كـَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ ٥
Then, no! They are going to know.
78:6
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَٰدٗا ٦
Have We not made the earth a resting place?
78:7
وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادٗا ٧
And the mountains as stakes?1
1 translator’s note
- To stabilize the land and balance the earth. ↩
78:8
وَخَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ٨
And We created you in pairs
78:9
وَجَعَلۡنَا نَوۡمَكُمۡ سُبَاتٗا ٩
And made your sleep [a means for] rest
78:10
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ لِبَاسٗا ١٠
And made the night as clothing1
1 translator’s note
- Covering you in darkness and providing rest. ↩
78:11
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشٗا ١١
And made the day for livelihood
78:12
وَبَنَيۡنَا فَوۡقَكُمۡ سَبۡعٗا شِدَادٗا ١٢
And constructed above you seven strong [heavens]
78:13
وَجَعَلۡنَا سِرَاجٗا وَهَّاجٗا ١٣
And made [therein] a burning lamp
78:14
وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُعۡصِرَٰتِ مَآءٗ ثَجَّاجٗا ١٤
And sent down from the rain clouds pouring water
78:15
لِّنُخۡرِجَ بِهِۦ حَبّٗا وَنَبَاتٗا ١٥
That We may bring forth thereby grain and vegetation
78:16
وَجَنَّٰتٍ أَلۡفَافًا ١٦
And gardens of entwined growth.
78:17
إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ كَانَ مِيقَٰتٗا ١٧
Indeed, the Day of Judgement is an appointed time -
78:18
يَوۡمَ يُنفَخُ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَتَأۡتُونَ أَفۡوَاجٗا ١٨
The Day the Horn is blown and you will come forth in multitudes
78:19
وَفُتِحَتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ أَبۡوَٰبٗا ١٩
And the heaven is opened and will become gateways
78:20
وَسُيِّرَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ فَكَانَتۡ سَرَابًا ٢٠
And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage.
78:21
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتۡ مِرۡصَادٗا ٢١
Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait
78:22
لِّلطَّٰغِينَ مَـَٔابٗا ٢٢
For the transgressors, a place of return,
78:23
لَّٰبِثِينَ فِيهَآ أَحۡقَابٗا ٢٣
In which they will remain for ages [unending].
78:24
لَّا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا بَرۡدٗا وَلَا شَرَابًا ٢٤
They will not taste therein [any] coolness or drink.
78:25
إِلَّا حَمِيمٗا وَغَسَّاقٗا ٢٥
Except scalding water and [foul] purulence -
78:26
جَزَآءٗ وِفَاقًا ٢٦
An appropriate recompense.1
1 translator’s note
- In proportion to and comparable with their crimes. ↩
78:27
إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَرۡجُونَ حِسَابٗا ٢٧
Indeed, they were not expecting an account
78:28
وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كِذَّابٗا ٢٨
And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.
78:29
وَكُلَّ شَيۡءٍ أَحۡصَيۡنَٰهُ كِتَٰبٗا ٢٩
But all things We have enumerated in writing.
78:30
فَذُوقُواْ فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمۡ إِلَّا عَذَابًا ٣٠
"So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment."1
1 translator’s note
- This announcement will be made to the companions of Hell. ↩
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy