Surah 21:38
Show Full Scripture Context (21:38-40) — 3 Verses
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ
But they say, ‘When (will) this promise (come to pass), if you are truthful?’
لَوۡ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ حِينَ لَا يَكُفُّونَ عَن وُجُوهِهِمُ ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا عَن ظُهُورِهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ
If (only) those who disbelieved knew the time when they will not be able to hold off the Fire from their faces and from their backs, nor will they be helped!
بَلۡ تَأۡتِيهِم بَغۡتَةٗ فَتَبۡهَتُهُمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمۡ يُنظَرُونَ
No! It will come upon them unexpectedly and confound them, and they will not be able to turn it back, nor will they be spared.
And Allah says
meaning, if only they knew for certain that it will inevitably come to pass, they would not seek to hasten it. If only they knew how the torment will overwhelm them from above them and from beneath their feet.
{They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and coverings (of Fire) beneath them} [39:16]
{Theirs ivill be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings (of Hellfire)} [7:41],
And in this Ayah Allah says:
{wheti they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs,} And Allah says:
{Their garments will be of tar, and fire will cover their faces} [14:50]. The torment will surround them on all sides,
{and they will not be helped.} means, and they will have no helper. This is like the Ayah:
{And they have no guardian against Allah} [13:34].
{Nay, it will come upon thetn all of a sudden} means, the Fire will come upon them suddenly.
{and will confound them,} means, it will overwhelm them and they will not know what to do.
{and they will have no power to avert it,} means, they will not be able to ward it off.
{nor will they get respite.} means, it will not be delayed for them for even a moment.