سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 24
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
لَّمْ
lam
not
تَفْعَلُوا۟
tafʿalū
you do
وَلَن
walan
and never
تَفْعَلُوا۟
tafʿalū
will you do
فَٱتَّقُوا۟
fa-ittaqū
then fear
ٱلنَّارَ
l-nāra
the Fire
ٱلَّتِى
allatī
whose
وَقُودُهَا
waqūduhā
[its] fuel
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
(is) [the] men
وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ ۖ
wal-ḥijāratu
and [the] stones
أُعِدَّتْ
uʿiddat
prepared
لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
lil'kāfirīna
for the disbelievers
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.
24. But if you do not do it—and you will never be able to do it—then fear the Fire [28. a] whose fuel is people and stones, prepared for the disbelievers [29].
[28] What will be the fuel of Hell? Allah Almighty already knew that presenting such speech is beyond human capability, and the five times that the disbelievers have been challenged in the Quran is to establish proof against them, so that if anyone persists in disbelief after these clear arguments, he should fear the punishment of that Hell whose fuel will not only be humans but also mineral stones (such as coal, sulfur, etc.), which intensify the heat of the fire many times over. Some scholars have said that in this verse, "stones" refers to those stone idols that were worshipped, and this view is also supported by this verse:
﴿ اِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ﴾ [ 98: 21]
"You and those whom you worship besides Allah will all be fuel for Hell."
So that the disbelievers may realize the reality of the divinity of their deities and their regret may increase even more. [28۔ الف]
The Literal Meaning of Taqwa:
The meaning of Ittaqā or Taqwa is to fear the consequences of one's actions. And in its root "wa-qa-ya" three things are fundamentally found:
(1) To fear. (2) To avoid. (3) To abstain. Thus, the meaning of Taqwa is to protect oneself from anything from which there is a risk of harm, and in the Shari'ah terminology, Taqwa is to protect oneself from anything that leads to sin. And this is achieved by abstaining from those matters which the Shari'ah has prohibited. Then, the concept of Taqwa is not limited only to refraining from prohibitions, but also includes the fulfillment of commands, because just as committing acts of indecency is a sin, so too is neglecting acts like prayer or fasting. And the fundamental purpose of all acts of worship is to create Taqwa within a person, meaning that before doing anything, he considers its outcome and, keeping that outcome in mind, either chooses to do it or abstain from it. And since the One who brings about the outcome is Allah Almighty, therefore, in the concept of Taqwa, along with fearing and avoiding the consequences of sins, fearing Allah and always being mindful of Him is automatically included.
[29] From this it is understood that Hell has already been brought into existence (and likewise Paradise), and this is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah. Whereas some people hold the view that Paradise and Hell will be prepared at the time of reward and punishment for deeds in the Hereafter.
[28] What will be the fuel of Hell? Allah Almighty already knew that presenting such speech is beyond human capability, and the five times that the disbelievers have been challenged in the Quran is to establish proof against them, so that if anyone persists in disbelief after these clear arguments, he should fear the punishment of that Hell whose fuel will not only be humans but also mineral stones (such as coal, sulfur, etc.), which intensify the heat of the fire many times over. Some scholars have said that in this verse, "stones" refers to those stone idols that were worshipped, and this view is also supported by this verse:
﴿ اِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ﴾ [ 98: 21]
"You and those whom you worship besides Allah will all be fuel for Hell."
So that the disbelievers may realize the reality of the divinity of their deities and their regret may increase even more. [28۔ الف]
The Literal Meaning of Taqwa:
The meaning of Ittaqā or Taqwa is to fear the consequences of one's actions. And in its root "wa-qa-ya" three things are fundamentally found:
(1) To fear. (2) To avoid. (3) To abstain. Thus, the meaning of Taqwa is to protect oneself from anything from which there is a risk of harm, and in the Shari'ah terminology, Taqwa is to protect oneself from anything that leads to sin. And this is achieved by abstaining from those matters which the Shari'ah has prohibited. Then, the concept of Taqwa is not limited only to refraining from prohibitions, but also includes the fulfillment of commands, because just as committing acts of indecency is a sin, so too is neglecting acts like prayer or fasting. And the fundamental purpose of all acts of worship is to create Taqwa within a person, meaning that before doing anything, he considers its outcome and, keeping that outcome in mind, either chooses to do it or abstain from it. And since the One who brings about the outcome is Allah Almighty, therefore, in the concept of Taqwa, along with fearing and avoiding the consequences of sins, fearing Allah and always being mindful of Him is automatically included.
[29] From this it is understood that Hell has already been brought into existence (and likewise Paradise), and this is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah. Whereas some people hold the view that Paradise and Hell will be prepared at the time of reward and punishment for deeds in the Hereafter.
