Surah At-Tahrim (66) — Ayah 6

(Ayah 6) ➊ {يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا قُوْۤا اَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ اَهْلِيْكُمْ نَارًا :} In the previous verses, the training of the Mothers of the Believers and the correction of their actions and morals was mentioned; now all the believers are being commanded regarding this. In {’’ نَارًا ‘‘}, the tanween is for magnification, meaning: save yourselves from this great fire. {’’ قُوْا‘‘} (save) is the plural masculine imperative from {’’وَقٰي يَقِيْ وَقْيًا وَ وِقَايَةً‘‘} (ض). In this, the believers are directed towards a very important responsibility: that they should save themselves from the fire of Hell, and along with that, by arranging for the education and training of their family members and the correction of their actions and morals, they should also save them from the fire of Hell. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْؤلٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهٖ ] [ بخاري، الجمعۃ، باب الجمعۃ في القرٰی والمدن : ۸۹۳ ] "Each of you is a shepherd (guardian), and each of you will be questioned about his flock." In the Noble Qur’an, Allah Almighty has commanded the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and every individual of the Ummah to command their family to pray and to be steadfast upon it. He said: «وَ اْمُرْ اَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَ اصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا » [ طٰہٰ : ۱۳۲ ] "And command your family to pray and be steadfast upon it." For this purpose, from childhood, they should be accustomed to practicing prayer, fasting, and other commands of Islam, and when they become sensible, if strictness is needed for this, that should also be done, even if they have not yet reached puberty. And with the beginning of the age of discernment, efforts should be made to protect them from sexual misconduct. Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ مُرُوْا أَوْلاَدَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِيْنَ وَاضْرِبُوْهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرِ سِنِيْنَ وَفَرِّقُوْا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ ] [ أبو داوٗد، الصلاۃ، باب متٰی یؤمر الغلام بالصلاۃ : ۴۹۵، و قال الألباني حسن صحیح ] "Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for it when they are ten years old, and separate them in their beds."

➋ { وَ قُوْدُهَا النَّاسُ وَ الْحِجَارَةُ :} For its details, see the commentary of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:24).

➌ {عَلَيْهَا مَلٰٓىِٕكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ … : ’’ غِلَاظٌ ‘‘ ’’غَلِيْظٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’غَلِيْظٌ‘‘}, meaning hard-hearted, merciless; and {’’ شِدَادٌ ‘‘ ’’شَدِيْدٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’شَدِيْدٌ‘‘}, meaning those with strong power, extremely strong. Here, four attributes of the angels appointed over Hell are mentioned: (1) They are extremely hard-hearted; they will have no mercy on anyone. (2) They are very strong; no one will be able to escape their grip. (3) They do not disobey any command that Allah gives them. (4) And they do not do anything of their own will, but only what they are commanded to do. See also Surah Al-Anbiya (27).

6. 1. In this, the people of faith are reminded of a very important responsibility of theirs, and that is to reform not only themselves but also their family members, and to ensure their Islamic education and upbringing, so that all of them may be saved from becoming fuel for Hell. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has said that when a child reaches the age of seven, instruct him to pray, and if you see negligence in prayer among children of ten years, then admonish them (Sunan Abi Dawood). The jurists have said that similarly, have them observe fasting, and instruct them to follow other commands as well, so that when they reach the age of understanding, they will have already acquired awareness of this true religion. (Ibn Kathir)

6. O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families [12] from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones [13]. Over it are angels, stern and severe, who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them [14], and do precisely what they are commanded.

[12] That is, Muslims should not be content with merely reforming themselves, but should pay equal attention to their family and household, and should guide their family members along with themselves on the path of religion. For this, every possible means should be used—by warning, by explaining, with love, with threats, with punishment—whatever way is possible. One should try to bring them to this path. The best explanation of this is the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ said that each of you is a shepherd (guardian), and he will be questioned about his flock (as to why he did not reform them). The leader is also a shepherd; he will be questioned about his flock. A man is the shepherd of his household; he will be questioned about his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband's house; she will be questioned about it. [بخاری۔ کتاب الوصایا۔ باب قولہ تعالیٰ من بعد وصیۃ۔۔]
In this regard, every Muslim has been given the responsibility to reform his family along with himself, otherwise he will be questioned about it.

[13] By stone is meant those stone idols as well, which the polytheists have been worshipping in the world, so that the regret and despair of the polytheists may increase further; and also the coal-stone, in which the intensity of the fire's heat is much greater than ordinary coal; and also sulphur and all other solid and stony flammable substances mixed with sulphur, which increase the intensity of the fire's heat.

[14] Three qualities of the angels appointed over Hell have been mentioned: first, that they are hard-hearted, they will not have mercy on anyone; second, they are strict, and will inflict punishment with full severity and strength; third, they will not be affected by the screams and pleas of the people of Hell, but will do only what they have been commanded by Allah.