Surah Al-Muddaththir (74) — Ayah 40

(Ayah 40 to 42) ➊ {فِيْ جَنّٰتٍ يَتَسَآءَلُوْنَ…:} That is, the companions of the right will ask each other in the gardens about the criminals: What happened to such and such criminal, and where did such and such go? Just search for them in Hell, then they will look into Hell and see them there, and will say to them: «مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِيْ سَقَرَ» "What caused you to enter Hell?" This interpretation of the verses is according to the translation of {’’ يَتَسَآءَلُوْنَ ‘‘} (tafāʿul) and {’’ عَنْ ‘‘} which is most commonly used. Before {’’ مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِيْ سَقَرَ ‘‘}, {’’يَقُوْلُوْنَ لَهُمْ‘‘} is implied. A similar scene is mentioned in Surah As-Saffat, where it is said: « فَاَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ يَّتَسَآءَلُوْنَ (50) قَالَ قَآىِٕلٌ مِّنْهُمْ اِنِّيْ كَانَ لِيْ قَرِيْنٌ (51) يَّقُوْلُ اَىِٕنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُصَدِّقِيْنَ (52) ءَاِذَا مِتْنَا وَ كُنَّا تُرَابًا وَّ عِظَامًا ءَاِنَّا لَمَدِيْنُوْنَ (53) قَالَ هَلْ اَنْتُمْ مُّطَّلِعُوْنَ (54) فَاطَّلَعَ فَرَاٰهُ فِيْ سَوَآءِ الْجَحِيْمِ (55) قَالَ تَاللّٰهِ اِنْ كِدْتَّ لَتُرْدِيْنِ (56) وَ لَوْ لَا نِعْمَةُ رَبِّيْ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمُحْضَرِيْنَ (57) اَفَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَيِّتِيْنَ (58) اِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْاُوْلٰى وَ مَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِيْنَ (59) اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيْمُ (60) لِمِثْلِ هٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعٰمِلُوْنَ » [ الصافات : ۵۰ تا ۶۱ ] "Then some of them will turn to others, questioning each other. One of them will say: Indeed, I had a companion. He used to say: Are you really among those who believe? When we have died and become dust and bones, will we really be recompensed? He will say: Will you look? So he will look and see him in the midst of the blazing Fire. He will say: By Allah! You almost ruined me. And if it were not for the favor of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought forth (to Hell). So are we not to die except our first death, and will we not be punished? Indeed, this is the great success. For the like of this, let the workers work."

The second interpretation of the verses is that {’’ يَتَسَآءَلُوْنَ ‘‘ ’’يَسْأَلُوْنَ‘‘} is in the meaning of and {’’ عَنْ ‘‘} is extra: {’’أَيْ يَسْأَلُوْنَ الْمُجْرِمِيْنَ‘‘} That is, the companions of the right will ask the criminals: What caused you to enter Hell? The question of the companions of the right to the people of Hell will not be for inquiry, but rather to humiliate and disgrace them and make them ashamed.

➋ From these verses, it is known that despite the immeasurable distance between Paradise and Hell, the people of Paradise will see the people of Hell and will also question and answer with them.