Surah 29:55

"On the Day when the punishment will cover them – from above them and from beneath their feet – (then) He will say, ‘Taste what you have done!’"

Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (38)

How the Idolators asked for the Torment to be hastened on Verses 29:54-55

Show Full Scripture Context (29:54-55) — 2 Verses

Verse 54

يَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَكَ بِٱلۡعَذَابِ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةُۢ بِٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

They seek to hurry you with the punishment. Surely Gehenna will indeed encompass the disbelievers.

Verse 55

يَوۡمَ يَغۡشَىٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَمِن تَحۡتِ أَرۡجُلِهِمۡ وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُواْ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

On the Day when the punishment will cover them – from above them and from beneath their feet – (then) He will say, ‘Taste what you have done!’

Allah tells us of the ignorance of the idolators and how they asked for the punishment of Allah to be hastened so that it would befall them quickly. This is like the Ayah,

If only those who disbelieved knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs.

The Fire will cover them from all sides, which is more effective as a physical punishment.

Quoted Scripture

"and it will be said: “Taste what you used to do.”"

This is a threat and a rebuke, which is a form of psychological punishment, as in the Ayah,

The Day they will be dragged on their faces into the Fire (it will be said to them): "Taste you the touch of Hell!" Verily, We have created all things with a measurement.

The Day when they will be pushed down by force to the fire of Hell, with a horrible, forceful pushing. This is the Fire which you used to deny. Is this magic or do you not see? Enter you therein (taste you therein its heat) and whether you are patient of it or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for what you used to do.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 7, Page 505)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

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