Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 16

(Ayah 16) ➊ {لَهُمْ مِّنْ فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِّنَ النَّارِ …:’’ ظُلَلٌ ‘‘ ’’ظُلَّةٌ‘‘} is the plural of "ẓullah", meaning canopy, umbrella, something that covers or gives shade, which has no walls, as He said: « وَ اِذَا غَشِيَهُمْ مَّوْجٌ كَالظُّلَلِ » [ لقمان : ۳۲ ] "And when a wave covers them like canopies." That is, there will be canopies of fire on every side above and below them. The flames of fire below are called canopies because they will be above some other people, since there are many levels in Hell, which are called "darakat," as Allah Almighty said: «اِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِيْنَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْاَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ » [ النساء : ۱۴۵ ] "Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest level of the Fire." It is also possible that the flames of fire are called canopies because they rise from below to above. In another verse, the fire below is described as their bedding and the fire above as their covering, as He said: « لَهُمْ مِّنْ جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ وَّ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍ » [ الأعراف : ۴۱ ] "For them will be a bed from Hell and coverings above them." And in another verse He said: « يَوْمَ يَغْشٰىهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَ مِنْ تَحْتِ اَرْجُلِهِمْ » [ العنکبوت : ۵۵ ] "The Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from beneath their feet." May Allah protect us with His refuge.
➋ { ذٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ اللّٰهُ بِهٖ عِبَادَهٗ … :} That is, this is the loss of the Day of Resurrection and the canopies of fire with which Allah warns His servants, so O My servants! Fear Me and always remain fearful.