corrupts the meaning: “No indeed! If only you knew with certain knowledge, you would surely see Hellfire.” Accordingly, “You will surely see Hellfire” is an independent sentence having no connection to what precedes it. It is an oath construction containing an implied oath, the full meaning being: “By Allah, you will surely see Hellfire.” When parsing it, grammarians therefore say that the lām prepares the way for an oath, while the clause “you will see” is the response to the oath. The oath itself has been omitted, and the full construction is: “By Allah, you will surely see Hellfire.” Hellfire is one of the names of the Fire.
“Then you will surely see it with the eye of certainty.” This further emphasizes that they will see it. When will it be seen? It will be seen on the Day of Resurrection. It will be brought forth, dragged by seventy thousand reins, each rein pulled by seventy thousand angels. What, then, must this Fire be like—we seek refuge in Allah! It is an immense and tremendous Fire, for it has seventy thousand reins, each pulled by seventy thousand angels, and the angels are mighty and stern. It is therefore a tremendous Fire—may Allah protect us from it.
“Then, on that Day, you will surely be questioned about the blessings.” That is, at that time, in that momentous setting, you will surely be questioned about the blessings. The scholars—may Allah have mercy upon them—differed concerning the words, “Then, on that Day, you will surely be questioned about the blessings”: does this refer only to the disbeliever, or to both the believer and the disbeliever?
The correct view is that it refers to both the believer and the disbeliever. Each will be questioned about the blessings, but the disbeliever will be questioned by way of reproach and censure, whereas the believer will be questioned by way of reminder. The evidence that it applies generally is the incident involving the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family—Abū Bakr, and Umar.
Abū Hurayra related: The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—went out one day—or one night—and encountered Abū Bakr and Umar. He asked, “What has brought you out of your homes at this hour?” They replied, “Hunger, O Messenger of Allah!” He said, “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, the very thing that brought you out has brought me out as well. Get up.” They therefore got up and accompanied him. He went to a man from among the Ansār, but the man was not at home. When the woman saw him, she said, “Welcome! Make yourselves at home!” The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—asked her, “Where is so-and-so?” She replied, “He has gone to fetch us some fresh water.” Just then, the Ansārī man arrived. He looked at the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and his two Companions, then said: