Surah 7

Surah 7:51

"who have taken their religion as diversion and jest. This present life has deceived them.’ So today We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs, and because they have denied Our signs."
The Favors of paradise are Prohibited for the People of the Fire Verses 7:50-51
Show Full Scripture Context (7:50-51) — 2 Verses
Verse 50

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَنۡ أَفِيضُواْ عَلَيۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ أَوۡ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

And the companions of the Fire will call out to the companions of the Garden: ‘Pour some water on us, or some of what God has provided you!’ They will say, ‘Surely God has forbidden both to the disbelievers,

Verse 51

ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لَهۡوٗا وَلَعِبٗا وَغَرَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ نَنسَىٰهُمۡ كَمَا نَسُواْ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِهِمۡ هَٰذَا وَمَا كَانُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يَجۡحَدُونَ

who have taken their religion as diversion and jest. This present life has deceived them.’ So today We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs, and because they have denied Our signs.

Allah emphasizes the disgrace of the people of the Fire. They will ask the people of Paradise for some of their drink and food, but they will not be given any of that. As-Suddi said,

Quoted Scripture
"And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise: " Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provided you with""

“That is food”. Ath-Thawri said that 'Uthman Ath-Thaqafi said that Said bin Jubayr commented on this Ayah, “One of them will call his father or brother, ‘I have been burned, so pour some water on me.’ The believers will be asked to reply, and they will reply,

Quoted Scripture
""Both Allah has forbidden to the disbelievers.""

“Refers to the food and drink of Paradise.”

Allah describes the disbelievers by what they used to do in this life, taking the religion as amusement and play, and being deceived by this life and its adornment, rather than working for the Hereafter as Allah commanded,

Quoted Scripture
"So this Day We shall forget them as they forgot their meeting of this Day"

meaning, Allah will treat them as if He has forgotten them. Certainly, nothing escapes Allah’s perfect watch and He never forgets anything. Allah said in another Ayah,

In a Record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets

Allah said - that He will forget them on that Day - as just recompense for them, because,

They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them

Like this: Our Ayat came unto you, but you disregarded them, and so this Day, you will be neglected and,

And it will be said : "This Day We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours."
Al-‘Awfi reported that Ibn ‘Abbas commented on,

Quoted Scripture
"So this Day We shall forget them as they forgot their meeting of this Day"

“Allah will forget the good about them, but not their evil.”

And ‘Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “We shall forsake them as they have forsaken the meeting of this Day of theirs.” Mujahid said, “We shall leave them in the Fire.” As-Suddi said, “We shall leave them from any mercy, just as they left any action on behalf of the meeting on this Day of theirs.”

It is recorded in the Sahih that Allah will say to the servant on the Day of Resurrection:

«"Have I not gotten you married? Have I not honored you? Have I not made horses and camels subservient for you and allowed you to become a leader and a master?" He will say, "Yes." Allah will say, "Did you think that you will meet Me?" He will say, "No." Allah the Exalted will say, 'Then this Day, I will forget you as you have forgotten Me."»

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.