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).