The fourth verse speaks about new kinds of punishments for the sinners in Hell. It is said, “And when they are thrown chain into an abyss they will pray for annihilation.”
They will be told that all their wailing will be useless for their predicament cannot be solved.
It becomes clear from this des c r i p tion that they will not be free in Hell also but there will be individual barracks like in jails where they will be yoked and chained so painfully that they will cry out but to no avail.
The word “Muqarraniin” is derived from “Qarn” and accoutering to Raghib in Mafuradat it means the pairing of people and thus the rope used to tie things is called “Qaran”. It is also used for a nation that lives in a certain time and sometimes for that period itself and is often used to describe excessiveness.
In this verse the some people have explained the word “Muqarraniin” as “the hands and legs of the sinners will be tied. Some other has said that the sinners will be tied in groups to long chains and yokes. This will be manifestation of their thoughts and deeds. They were hands in gloves in usurping the rights of the oppressed, created mischief and conspired to be unjust.
But the words “ Makaanan zayyiqan” are a very apt des c r i p tion of their conditions in the hereafter and this is too is the manifestation of their sins in the form punishment that they gave to others by incarcerating them into narrow places tied to chains or that they constricted the lives of the humble people in such a way that they were totally helpless.
“Subuur” actually means destruction though Maqayis-ol-Loghat has given three meanings for the same: destruction, nurture and facility. An earth which is heaped like lime is called sabirat. All the above meanings may be reverting to the word destruction because crossing such lands is not without dangers. Since a person protects himself and his family during a danger so this word has been used for nurturing and protection. When an Arab faced any serious danger he would cry out” Wasbura” which means “I am dying”. And this reflects their unease and extent of pain.
So the words, “) “do not pray of r a single destruction but pray for many.” It may be referring to the various kinds of unbearable punishments or to an unending and painful chastisement. This is also the manifestation of their deeds because in this life they resorted to various sins, oppressed people and subjected them to all kinds of torments.
Another painful torment is mentioned in the fifth verse. It is said, ““The fire will scorch their faces and they will be morose.”. Their faces will be distorted on the Judgment Day.
The word “ Talfah” is derived from “Lafah” and according to many linguists it means the negative effects of the sun’s heat, fierce winds and fire and it is often used for the strike of one’s sword which in turn is often compared to the heat of the sun, flames of fire, and fierce winds.
At times the word “Nafah” is used instead of “Lafah” but some people have said that the latter is used to denote the extreme fierceness while the former is for just severe-ness of the punishments.
The word “ Kaali-huun” is derived from “Kaluuh” and according to many linguists and commentaries it means harness and fierce grin and this will be the condition of the sinners in Hell due to the flames of fire on their faces. It depicts the effects of the fierce flames of fire which is very terrifying. These are the faces that used to contort on seeing the needy and the lips that used to grin on them in contempt. This dreadful deed in this word will manifest itself as punishment for them in the hereafter.
The sixth group of verses another painful chastisement is recorded. It is said that they will soon realize their punishment when “they are dragged into the scalding water with iron collars and chains around their necks.” And then adds that they will be sent“into the scalding water and set aflame.”
The word “Aghlaal” is the plural of “Ghal” and “Salasil” is the plural of “Silsila” the difference is that “ghal” is a yoke tied to the neck and “Silsila” is the chains that bind them or that circle their necks hands and legs.
The word “Yushabuun” is derived from “Sahb” which means to drag.
The clouds are called “Sahaab” because they are dragged along the vast sky. (1)
Some have described it as being dragged on the ground. (2)
The word “ Yus-jaruun” is derived from “Sajr” and Maqayis-ol-Loghat prescribes three meanings for it: to fill, to mix, and to burn, but some have opined that all the three revert to the same base for the actually meaning they say is the over brimming or spilling from an over filled utensil or cup. This is why the terms Masjoor and Sajeer are used for conflagrations, tsunamis and passionate lovers.
This is why they will be enchained first then thrown into the scalding water and then burnt. It is clear that throwing some one into the fire after taking him out from the scalding water is more painful.
This is the manifestation of the deeds that they perpetrated on the helpless and innocent people in this world, torturing them in various ways, confiscating their freedom and dragging them in yoke and chains.
We learn from the above verses that it is nearly impossible to describe the torment of the sinners in Hell because even the most powerfully built people will not be able to bear them for they are extremely painful chastisements.
1. Maqayis-ol-Loghat, Misbahol Loghat and Mafuradat of Raghib.
2. At-Tahqiq fi Kalimati Qura’n Kareem, and Tafsir Al Mizan for this verse.
