slips he will make. That is, one who speaks excessively will make many slips and errors. So guard your tongue, for everything you say will be written in the records, which will be spread open for you on the Day of Resurrection.
﴾When the heaven is stripped away﴿: The heaven above us is presently a protected, strong, and firm canopy. Allah Most High says: ﴾We built the heaven with might﴿ [Al-Dhāriyāt: 47]—that is, with strength. He also says: ﴾We built above you seven mighty heavens﴿ [Al-Naba’: 12]—that is, strong heavens. On the Day of Resurrection, the heaven will be stripped away, meaning that it will be removed from its place, just as a camel’s hide is stripped from its flesh when it is flayed. Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He, will strip it away and then fold it in His right hand, as He Most High says: ﴾The heavens will be folded in His right hand﴿ [Al-Zumar: 67].
﴾On the Day We roll up the heaven as a scroll is rolled up around written sheets﴿ [Al-Anbiyā’: 104]. That is, just as a scroll is rolled around writings. In other words, when a writer finishes writing, he rolls up the sheet to protect it from being torn or erased. Thus, the heaven will be stripped away on the Day of Resurrection and all will be open space, except that Allah Most High says: ﴾And eight will bear the Throne of your Lord above them on that Day﴿ [Al-Hāqqa: 17]. Instead of the heaven that is now above us, the Throne will then be above us, for the heaven will be folded in the right hand of Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He. He will fold it in His right hand and shake it. Likewise, He will grasp the earth (1) and say, “I am the King! Where are the kings of the earth?”
﴾When Hellfire is set ablaze﴿: Hellfire is the Fire. It is so named because of the remoteness of its depths and the darkness of its appearance. “Set ablaze” means kindled. What fuel will be used to kindle it? Allah has described its fuel: ﴾O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones﴿ [Al-Tahrīm: 6]. Instead of being fueled with firewood, its fuel will be people—that is, the disbelievers. The stones are stones of a tremendous fire, fiercely combustible and intensely hot. This is what it means for Hell to be set ablaze. ﴾When Paradise﴿—Paradise is the abode of the God-fearing,