22. Sura al-Hajj

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

هَذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِي رَبِّهِمْ...  

22: 19.  These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord:

C2792. Two antagonists: i.e., parties of antagonists, viz.,

-         Men of Faith, who confess their Lord and seek to carry out His Will,

-         and Men who deny their Lord and defy His Will.

...فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ...

but those who deny (their Lord) -- for them will be cut out a garment of Fire:

...يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُؤُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ ﴿١٩﴾

over their heads will be poured out boiling water.

يُصْهَرُ بِهِ مَا فِي بُطُونِهِمْ وَالْجُلُودُ ﴿٢٠﴾

22: 20.  With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins.

C2793. The punishment, will be all-pervading, not merely superficial.

Other versions:

22:19 [al-Hajj, Medina 103]

Arabic Source and Roman Transliteration Arabic ۞ هَٰذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِي رَبِّهِمْ ۖ فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ &#x21E8 Transliteration Hathani khasmani ikhtasamoo fee rabbihim faallatheena kafaroo quttiAAat lahum thiyabun min narin yusabbu min fawqi ruoosihimu alhameemu &#x21E8

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning Muhammad Asad These two contrary kinds of man have become engrossed in contention about their Sustainer! But [thus it is:] as for those who are bent on denying the truth garments of fire shall be cut out for them [in the life to come]; burning despair will be poured over their heads, &#x21E8 M. M. Pickthall These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads, &#x21E8 Shakir These are two adversaries who dispute about their Lord; then (as to) those who disbelieve, for them are cut out garments of fire, boiling water shall be poured over their heads. &#x21E8 Yusuf Ali These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord: But those who deny (their Lord),- for them will be cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water. &#x21E8 Wahiduddin Khan These two groups, [the believers and those who deny the truth], dispute concerning their Lord. Those who deny the truth will have garments of fire cut out for them; and boiling water will be poured down over their heads, &#x21E8 [Al-Muntakhab] There, you people have an intellectual acquirement to comprehend: two opponents who argued, one in favour and the other against Allah, their Creator. As for those invested with the ugly vesture of disbelief, their measures have been taken for fitting them with an exclusive attire; vesture made of fire, and on their heads, the seat of thought and imagination will be poured hot water bubbling over in agitation, &#x21E8 [Progressive Muslims] Here are two opponents who have disputed regarding their Lord; as for those who rejected, outer garments made from fire are cut out for them, and boiling water is poured from above their heads.

(22:20)

causing all that is within their bodies, as well as the skins, to melt away. 27 (22:21) And they

shall be held [in this state as if] by iron grips; 28 (22:22) and every time they try in their anguish

to come out of it, they shall be returned thereto and [be told]: "Taste suffering through fire [to

the full]!"

[[Asad’s notes - 24 Lit., "these two adversaries" or "antagonists", i.e., those who believe in God's oneness and uniqueness, and those who ascribe divine qualities to beings other than Him, or even deny His

existence altogether.

25 I.e., in distinction from those who err out of ignorance.

26 For this rendering of hamim, see note 62 on the concluding sentence of 6:70, as well as note 65 on 1 4 : 50 and note 7 on 73 : 1 2- 1 3 , which mention Razi' s interpretations of similar allegorical

descriptions of the suffering that will befall the sinners in the hereafter.

27 I.e., causing their inner and outer personality utterly to disintegrate.

28 Lit., "for them will be grips (maqami 1 ) of iron" . The noun miqma'ah - of which maqami'is the plural - is derived from the verb qama'a, signifying "he curbed" or "restrained" or "held in subjection" (Lisan al-'Arab). Hence, the "iron grips" mentioned in the above verse denote the inescapability of the suffering in the hereafter to which "they who are bent on denying the truth" condemn themselves. ]]