Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 19

19. These are two groups who have disputed concerning their Lord [26]. As for those who disbelieved, garments of fire will be cut out for them [27], and boiling water will be poured over their heads from above.

[26] That is, among the two disputing and fighting parties, one party is of Allah’s obedient servants and Muslims, and the other is of the disbelievers. And in this party of disbelievers, all those groups are included which have been mentioned above, i.e., Jews, Sabians, Christians, Magians, polytheists, and besides them, those people who are not mentioned in this verse, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, deniers of the existence of Allah, i.e., naturalists and atheists, etc.—all are included in this second party. The cause of dispute between these two parties is the Being and Attributes of Allah Almighty. The first party accepts Allah’s attributes exactly as Allah Himself has described them. Then they remain obedient to Allah and prostrate before Him. The second party includes all kinds of people, and sometimes they even form alliances against the first party. Then, these parties do not only confront each other in debate and argument, but the same situation occurs in the field of jihad and fighting as well. And Hazrat Aliؓ even says that this verse was revealed specifically about those people who became opponents in the Battle of Badr, as is made clear by the following hadith. Qais bin ‘Abad says that Hazrat Aliؓ said: “On the Day of Resurrection, I will be the first to kneel before the Lord and present my case.” Qais says that this verse was revealed about those people who came out for single combat on the Day of Badr, i.e., (from the Muslims) Aliؓ, Hamzaؓ, and ‘Ubaidah bin Harith, and (from the disbelievers) Shaibah bin ‘Utbah, ‘Utbah bin Rabi‘ah, and Walid bin ‘Utbah. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]

The Challenge to Single Combat at Badr:

In this hadith, there is a brief mention of the single combat at the field of Badr, the details of which are as follows: When the army of the disbelievers learned that the trade caravan had safely reached Makkah, a serious faction among the chiefs of Quraysh was of the opinion that now there was no benefit in fighting, because the purpose for which they had set out had been achieved. ‘Utbah bin Rabi‘ah and Hakim bin Hizam were among such people. One of the causes of this war was also the killing of a Hadrami, who had been killed by the Muslims in the incident of Wadi Nakhlah. Hakim bin Hizam went to ‘Utbah bin Rabi‘ah and said, “I have an idea in mind. If you wish, you can save people from war and bloodshed and earn a great virtue.” ‘Utbah asked, “What is that idea?” Hakim bin Hizam (who later accepted Islam and became a distinguished Companion) said, “If you yourself pay the blood money for that Hadrami, the agitation for retaliation that has spread among the people will subside on its own.” ‘Utbah gladly accepted this suggestion. Then both of them went to Abu Jahl regarding the cessation of war, who was an arrogant, rebellious, and hot-tempered chief. He did not like this opinion at all. He said to ‘Utbah, “You want to avoid war because your son has become a Muslim and now you are showing cowardice?” ‘Utbah could not tolerate this taunt of cowardice and said, “Tomorrow it will become clear who is the coward!” On the other hand, Abu Jahl incited the tribe of the Hadrami, the result of which was that a general atmosphere of war arose in the army of the disbelievers and the possibility of avoiding war ended. The next day, when both armies faced each other, this very ‘Utbah bin Rabi‘ah came out with his brother Shaibah bin ‘Utbah and his son Walid bin ‘Utbah and shouted, “Is there anyone who will come out for single combat?” Three Ansari Companions came out from the Muslim army to face them, so ‘Utbah shouted and asked «من انتم؟ من القوم؟» (i.e., who are you people and from which tribe are you?). They told their names, so ‘Utbah said, “You are not our equals; we have not come to fight you.” Then he shouted, “O Muhammad!ﷺ Do not insult us. We have not come to fight these farmers. Send forth those who are our equals and our peers.” And in one narration, it is mentioned that at this occasion, ‘Utbah’s Muslim son and Abu Hudhayfah wanted to come out against his father, but the Messenger of Allahﷺ stopped them. Then Hazrat Hamzaؓ, Hazrat Aliؓ, and Hazrat ‘Ubaidah bin Harithؓ came out for the combat. Hazrat Hamzaؓ quickly dispatched ‘Utbah, and Hazrat Aliؓ sent Shaibah to Hell. But Hazrat ‘Ubaidah bin Harithؓ had a fierce duel with Walid bin ‘Utbah. Both struck each other simultaneously with deadly blows. Hazrat Abu ‘Ubaidah’s legs were cut and he fell, so Hazrat Hamzaؓ and Hazrat Aliؓ advanced, finished off Walid, and carried Abu ‘Ubaidah, who was dying, back. He said, “Take me to the Messenger of Allahﷺ.” When he reached there, he asked, “What is your command regarding me?” The Prophetﷺ said, “You will surely attain Paradise.” Upon hearing this, his face brightened and he said, “If only Abu Talib were alive today, he would have seen that I have fulfilled my word and sacrificed my life for the Messenger of Allahﷺ.”
[27]
The Garments, Food, and Other Punishments of the People of Hell:

That is, for the second party who chose the path of disbelief and rebellion, their garments will also be made of some inflammable material. As Allah Almighty has said at another place: ﴿سَرَابِيْلُهُمْ مِّنْ قَطِرَانٍ﴾ [50: 14] These garments will flare up and cling to their bodies, and when boiling water is poured over their heads, it will not extinguish this fire but will rather intensify it. Their skins will rot and fall off, and immediately new skin will be created so that there is no reduction in their punishment. Then this same boiling water will enter their bodies through their brains, causing all their intestines to be cut to pieces. Furthermore, they will be beaten with iron rods. When they try to escape from Hell, the angels will beat them with rods and push them back into Hell, telling them that this is the recompense for their own deeds. Why do you try to escape now, and you will have to taste this everlasting punishment.