Surah 39:16

"For them (there are) shadows of fire above them, and shadows (of fire) below them. That is what God frightens His servants with: “My servants! Guard (yourselves) against Me!”’"

Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (48)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 39:16

Show Full Scripture Context (39:16) — 1 Verse

Verse 16

لَهُم مِّن فَوۡقِهِمۡ ظُلَلٞ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحۡتِهِمۡ ظُلَلٞۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥۚ يَٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ

For them (there are) shadows of fire above them, and shadows (of fire) below them. That is what God frightens His servants with: “My servants! Guard (yourselves) against Me!”’

{Theirs will be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings (of Hell-fire). Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers} (7:41)
{On the Day when the torment (Hell-fire) shall cover them from above them and from underneath their feet, and it will be said: “Taste what you used to do.”} (29:55)
{With this Allah frightens His servants:} means, Allah tells us about this, which will undoubtedly come to pass, to frighten His servants, so that they will keep away from unlawful things and from sin.
{O My servants, therefore have Taqwa of Me!} means, 'Fear My wrath, My anger, My punishment and My vengeance.'

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Page 371)

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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