Ma'arif al-Qur'an · Tafsir · in English
Al-Ghashiyah 88:7–13
88:7–10Page 592
لَّا يُسۡمِنُ وَلَا يُغۡنِي مِن جُوعٖ ٧
Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ نَّاعِمَةٞ ٨
[Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure.
لِّسَعۡيِهَا رَاضِيَةٞ ٩
With their effort [they are] satisfied
فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٖ ١٠
In an elevated garden,
لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِن جُوعٍ (that will neither nourish, nor satisfy hunger...88:7). When the preceding verse was revealed in which it was stated that the inmates of Hell will get food like Dari`, some of the pagans of Makkah [ mockingly ] said that their camels eat Dari` and yet they are fat and healthy. In response to their statement, the following verse of the Qur'an was revealed which means that they should not compare the Dari` of this world with that of the Hereafter. The latter will neither provide nutrition, nor satisfy their hunger.
88:11–13Page 592
لَّا تَسۡمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةٗ ١١
Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.1
فِيهَا عَيۡنٞ جَارِيَةٞ ١٢
Within it is a flowing spring.
فِيهَا سُرُرٞ مَّرۡفُوعَةٞ ١٣
Within it are couches raised high
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً (in which they will not hear any absurd talk...88:11). It includes the words of disbelief, futile or idle talk, obscene language, calumny or false accusation, or any other talk that hurts people's feelings. On another occasion, the Qur'an puts it thus:
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
'They will hear neither an absurd talk therein, nor something leading to sin, [ 56:25]
This shows that false accusation and absurd talks are hurtful. That is why the Holy Qur'an has described it as a blessing to the inmates of Paradise that no such foolish words will come across their ears that may pollute their hearts.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences