سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ

Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 179

The Heights · Meccan · Juz 9 · Page 174

‹
›
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ ﴿179﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَلَقَدْ walaqad And certainly
ذَرَأْنَا dharanā We have created
لِجَهَنَّمَ lijahannama for Hell
كَثِيرًۭا kathīran many
مِّنَ mina of
ٱلْجِنِّ l-jini the jinn
وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ wal-insi and men
لَهُمْ lahum For them
قُلُوبٌۭ qulūbun (are) hearts
لَّا lā (but) not
يَفْقَهُونَ yafqahūna they understand
بِهَا bihā with them
وَلَهُمْ walahum and for them
أَعْيُنٌۭ aʿyunun (are) eyes
لَّا lā (but) not
يُبْصِرُونَ yub'ṣirūna they see
بِهَا bihā with them
وَلَهُمْ walahum and for them
ءَاذَانٌۭ ādhānun (are) ears
لَّا lā (but) not
يَسْمَعُونَ yasmaʿūna they hear
بِهَآ ۚ bihā with them
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ulāika Those
كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ kal-anʿāmi (are) like cattle
بَلْ bal nay
هُمْ hum they
أَضَلُّ ۚ aḍallu (are) more astray
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ulāika Those
هُمُ humu they
ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ l-ghāfilūna (are) the heedless

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 179) ➊ In {وَ لَقَدْ ذَرَاْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيْرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْاِنْسِ: ’’ لِجَهَنَّمَ ‘‘}, the "lam" can be for consequence (for the outcome), meaning that due to not making proper use of their faculties, they will ultimately end up in Hell, as if they were created for Hell itself. And it can also be for purpose, meaning that when Allah created the universe, He already had knowledge of everything that would happen in the future, that such and such jinn or human would go to the world and do the deeds of the people of Hell. According to this knowledge, He wrote everything down; this is called decree and destiny (qada wa qadar). Next, the qualities of the people of Hell are described, that those who have these qualities do not accept guidance, even though the purpose of Allah sending the Shariah and the Prophets is that mankind should worship Allah, but He already knows who will follow the Shariah and who will not. The scholars have explained the difference between destiny and a person being compelled.
➋ { لَهُمْ قُلُوْبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُوْنَ بِهَا …:} That is, Allah gave them hearts, eyes, and ears so that they could use them to recognize their Master, observe His signs in the universe and within themselves, listen attentively to the truth, and accept it. But when they did not benefit from them, they proved to be like cattle, or even more astray, because the requirements Allah placed in the nature of cattle and the purpose for which they were created, they are fulfilling well. In contrast, the disbelievers, instead of fulfilling their purpose of life, which is worship, are using their will and choice to disobey their Creator.
➌ {اُولٰٓىِٕكَ هُمُ الْغٰفِلُوْنَ:} That is, they are heedless of their purpose of life and unconcerned about the life after death and accountability. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "It is obligatory on every person to recognize Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and to learn their commands; if anyone does not do so, he will go to Hell." (Muwaddih)

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.

179. 1. This is related to predestination. That is, regarding every human and jinn, Allah had knowledge of what good or bad deeds they would do after coming into the world, and accordingly, He has written it. This is the mention of those inhabitants of Hell who, according to Allah’s knowledge, were to do the deeds of the people of Hell. Further ahead, by describing more of their characteristics, it has been clarified that those people in whom these things exist in the manner mentioned here, then understand that their end is bad. (2) That is, the heart, eyes, and ears—these things Allah has given so that a person, benefiting from them, may understand his Lord, observe His signs, and attentively listen to the truth. But the person who does not use these faculties for this purpose is, in terms of not benefiting from them, like cattle, rather even more astray than them. Because cattle still have some awareness of their benefit and harm, and they benefit from beneficial things and avoid harmful things, but the person who turns away from Allah’s guidance loses even the ability to distinguish what is beneficial for him and what is harmful. That is why, in the next sentence, they are also called heedless.

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.

179. Indeed, We have created many jinn and humans for Hell. They have hearts with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle—no, they are even more astray. They are the heedless ones.

[179]
Why Are the Majority of Jinn and Humans in Hell?

That is, We gave jinn and humans hearts and minds so that they may use them to reflect, eyes so that they may see the signs of Allah, and ears so that they may hear the words of Allah and the truth. But the majority among them did not use these blessings of Allah properly and used them only as much as animals do, and thus they went astray. As a result, they will be admitted to Hell. And it has already been explained that adopting the means is within the control of humans themselves, and it is in exchange for this choice that they will be rewarded or punished. As for the consequences or results of these means, only Allah has control over those results. For example, if Allah wills, He can forgive anyone from among the majority who are to enter Hell. Therefore, the attribution of these consequences can be made both to those who adopted such means and to Allah, because He is the Creator of the consequences. The meaning of this verse is by no means that Allah, at the time of creating jinn and humans, had already decided to admit the majority of them to Hell. Rather, Allah’s purpose in creating jinn and humans is that they worship Him. [51: 56]
From this verse, it apparently seems that if Allah created the majority or a large number of jinn and humans only so that they would be admitted to Hell, then what fault is it of the jinn and humans? To remove this doubt, see footnote number 21 under verse 24 of this same surah.

[180]
How Are Disbelievers Worse Than Cattle?

They are worse than cattle in the sense that cattle have not been given intellect and understanding, so they are not responsible for seeking or following the path of guidance. Whereas humans have been given such faculties to seek the path of guidance and attain spiritual perfection, yet if they do not use them and go astray, then they are worse than cattle.
← Previous All Surahs Next →
Telegram
Facebook