Surah 55

Surah 55:35

"A flame of fire and a furious wind will be sent against you, and you will not (be able to) defend yourselves."
A Warning for Humans and Jinn Verses 55:31-36
Show Full Scripture Context (55:31-36) — 6 Verses
Verse 31

سَنَفۡرُغُ لَكُمۡ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ

Soon We shall be free (to attend) to you, you two burdens!

Verse 32

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Which of the blessings of your Lord will you two call a lie?

Verse 33

يَٰمَعۡشَرَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ أَن تَنفُذُواْ مِنۡ أَقۡطَارِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنفُذُواْۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ

Assembly of jinn and humankind! If you are able to pass beyond the confines of the heavens and the earth, pass! You will not pass beyond (them) except by authority.

Verse 34

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Which of the blessings of your Lord will you two call a lie?

Verse 35

يُرۡسَلُ عَلَيۡكُمَا شُوَاظٞ مِّن نَّارٖ وَنُحَاسٞ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ

A flame of fire and a furious wind will be sent against you, and you will not (be able to) defend yourselves.

Verse 36

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Which of the blessings of your Lord will you two call a lie?

Ibn Jurayj said that the Ayah,

We shall attend to you, means, "We shall judge you," while Al-Bukhari said that it means, "We shall recompense you. Surely, nothing will busy Allah from attending to anything else." This type of speech pattern is common in the Arabic language. For example, one would say, "I will attend to you," even when one is not busy with anything else. Allah's saying;

O you Thaqalan! refers to the humans and the Jinns, as in the Hadith,

"Everyone will be able to hear it, except the Thaqalayn."

In another narration that explains it, the Prophet said,

"... except mankind and the Jinns."

Allah said,

Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny?, then,

O assembly of Jinn and men! If you are able to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)!

meaning, 'you will never be able to escape Allah's orders and decrees, because it encompasses you. You will never be able to avoid or avert His rule and judgement over you, you are surrounded by it wherever you may be.'

This is also about the Gathering when the angels, comprising seven lines in every direction, will surround the creatures. None of the creatures will be able to escape on that Day,

except with authority meaning, except with the commandment from Allah,

On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee?" No! There is no refuge! Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day.,

And those who earned evil deeds, the recompense of an evil deed is the like thereof, and humiliating disgrace will cover them. No defender will they have from Allah. Their faces will be covered as it were with pieces from the darkness of night. They are the dwellers of Fire, they will abide therein forever.

Allah's statement,

There will be sent against you both, Shuwaz of fire and Nuhas, and you will not be able to defend yourselves.

'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn 'Abbas that Shuwaz is the flame of fire. Abu Salih said, "It is the flame above the fire below the smoke." Ad-Dahhak said,

Shuwaz of fire "A flood of fire." Allah said;

and Nuhas, 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn 'Abbas; "The smoke of the fire." Similar was reported from Abu Salih, Sa'id bin Jubayr and Abu Sinan. Ibn Jarir said that the Arabs used to call the smoke of the fire, Nuhas and Nihas. But he said that the scholars of Qur'anic recitation said that in this Ayah, the word recited is Nuhas. Mujahid said, "Molten brass poured over their heads." Qatadah held the same view. Ad-Dahhak said, "Nuhas is liquid copper." The Ayah means, 'if you, mankind and the Jinns, try to escape on the Day of Resurrection, then the angels, including those among them who guard Hellfire, will bring you back by directing smoke of fire and molten brass on you.' Allah's statement,

and you will not be able to defend yourselves. Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny?

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 9, Page 388-391)

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.