Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِذَاidhāWhen
رَأَتْهُمra-athumit sees them
مِّنminfrom
مَّكَانٍۭmakānina place
بَعِيدٍۢbaʿīdinfar
سَمِعُوا۟samiʿūthey will hear
لَهَاlahāits
تَغَيُّظًۭاtaghayyuẓanraging
وَزَفِيرًۭاwazafīranand roaring
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 12){ اِذَارَاَتْهُمْمِّنْمَّكَانٍۭبَعِيْدٍ …:} When Hell sees those disbelievers from a far distance, they will hear from Hell a sound that is extremely angry and like the braying of a donkey. At that time, the state of Hell’s anger is described in Surah Al-Mulk (6 to 8). From this, it is proven that Hell is conscious; in addition, from many other verses and hadiths, it is established that Hell is conscious, gets angry, makes a sound like a donkey, and speaks, as He said: «{ يَوْمَنَقُوْلُلِجَهَنَّمَهَلِامْتَلَاْتِوَتَقُوْلُهَلْمِنْمَّزِيْدٍ }»[ قٓ : ۳۰ ] “The Day We will say to Hell, ‘Are you filled?’ and it will say, ‘Are there any more?’” And in Sahih Bukhari, there is mention of Paradise and Hell arguing with each other, in which it is mentioned that when Allah places His foot inside Hell, it will say ‘Qat Qat’ (enough, enough). [ دیکھیے بخاري، التفسیر، باب قولہ : « و تقول ھل من مزید » : ۴۸۴۸، ۴۸۴۹ ] And also in Bukhari, there is a hadith about Hell complaining to Allah about its intense heat, and Allah granting it permission to exhale twice a year. [ دیکھیے بخاري، بدء الخلق، باب صفۃ النار وأنہا مخلوقۃ : ۳۲۶۰ ] For Hell’s consciousness, its fierceness, and rebellion, see the commentary of Surah Al-Fajr (23). Some rationalists interpret all these verses and hadiths metaphorically, but Ahl al-Sunnah consider them to be literal, because metaphor is only accepted when the literal meaning is impossible. It is not difficult for Allah to grant Hell consciousness, vision, and speech. If the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) could hear the crying sound of the lifeless Hanana (pillar), then why can’t the people of Hell hear the sound of Hell’s anger, and why can’t Hell see them from afar? And if Allah can grant the power of speech to a piece of flesh (the tongue), then why can’t He create this power in anything? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said that near the Day of Judgment, in the war between Muslims and Jews, every tree and stone except the Gharqad will speak to the believer, telling him that a Jew is hiding behind it, so kill him. [ دیکھیے مسلم، الفتن و أشراط الساعۃ، باب لا تقوم الساعۃ حتی… : ۲۹۲۲ ] And Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَالَّذِيْنَفْسِيْبِيَدِهِ،لَاتَقُوْمُالسَّاعَةُحَتّٰیتُكَلِّمَالسِّبَاعُالْإِنْسَ،وَحَتّٰیتُكَلِّمَالرَّجُلَعَذَبَةُسَوْطِهِوَشِرَاكُنَعْلِهِوَتُخْبِرُهُفَخِذُهُبِمَاأَحْدَثَأَهْلُهُبَعْدَهُ ][ ترمذي، الفتن، باب ما جاء في کلام السباع : ۲۱۸۱، وقال الألباني صحیح ] “By the One in Whose hand is my soul! The Hour will not be established until wild animals speak to humans, and a man’s whip and the strap of his sandal will speak to him, and his thigh will inform him of what sin his family committed after him.” If the rationalists keep interpreting all these instances, then most verses and hadiths will become toys, with which they will play as they wish and derive whatever meaning they want.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
12-1. That is, Hell will flare up in anger just by seeing those disbelievers from afar in the plain of Resurrection, and it will roar and rage to seize them in its wrath, just as it is stated elsewhere (اِذَآاُلْقُوْافِيْهَاسَمِعُوْالَهَاشَهِيْقًاوَّهِىَتَفُوْرُ ۙ تَكَادُتَمَــيَّزُمِنَالْغَيْظِ) 67. Al-Mulk: 8-7) "When the inmates of Hell are thrown into it, they will hear its roaring, and it will be boiling with fury, as if it would burst with rage." The seeing and roaring of Hell is a reality.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
When it sees them from a distant place, they will hear its raging and roaring [16].
[16] For the destruction of such hostile and obstinate people, We have already prepared the blazing fire of Hell. When it sees its prey, it will immediately flare up, and due to the intensity and fierceness of its flames, various kinds of furious sounds and hisses will begin to emerge from it. Hearing this sound, the hearts of such hostile and obstinate people will fail them from terror even before entering Hell. In this verse, the act of seeing is either used figuratively for Hell, as we say, "Our house has long been waiting for you," or it could be in the literal sense, meaning that the fire of Hell will have consciousness, and the greater the criminal, the more it will rage against him and the more fiercely it will burn him.
