with jinn and humankind alike. This question from Allah, Exalted is He, is to demonstrate the truth of His declaration and bring His promise to pass. Hell will say, “Is there any more?” It was said that this means: “I am full, and no place within me remains unfilled.” Thus, it is an interrogative of denial. This was the view of ‘Ata’, Mujahid, and Muqatil ibn Sulayman.

It was also said that it is an interrogative requesting more. This was the view of Ibn ‘Abbas in the narration of Abu Salih. According to this view, the question, “Are you full?” will be asked before all of its inhabitants have entered it.

It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that Allah Most High had already decreed: “I will surely fill Hell with jinn and humankind all together” (al-Sajdah 32:13). When Allah’s enemies are driven to it, no company is cast into it except that it goes into it, yet nothing fills it. It will then say, “Have You not ⦗138/b⦘ sworn that You would fill me?” So He will place His Foot upon it and then say, “Are you full?” It will reply, “Enough, enough! I am full; there is no room for more in me.” (1)

Abu Sa‘id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-‘Abbas al-Humaydi informed us; [Abu ‘Abd Allah Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hafiz] (2) informed us; Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan ibn Ayyub al-Tusi related to us; Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Idris al-Razi informed us; Adam ibn Abi Iyas al-‘Asqalani related to us; Shayban ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman related to us, from Qatadah, from Anas ibn Malik, who said: The Messenger of Allah said, “Hell will continue to say, ‘Is there any more?’ until the Lord of Might places His Foot in it. Then it will say, ‘Enough, enough, by Your might!’ Its parts will draw together, and there will remain surplus space in Paradise until Allah brings into existence a creation and settles them in the remaining space of Paradise.” (3)

“And Paradise will be brought near to the God-fearing, not far away. ‘This is what you were promised—for every penitent, heedful servant.’” (31–32)

“And Paradise will be brought near”: it will be brought close and drawn near; “to the God-fearing”: those who guarded themselves against associating partners with Allah; “not far away”: they will see it before entering it.

“This is what you were promised”: Ibn Kathir recited it in the third person, while the others recited it in the second person. It will be said to them: This which you see is what was promised to you through the tongues of the prophets, peace be upon them. “For every penitent”: one who repeatedly returns from sins to obedience. Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib said: He is one who commits a sin, then repents; then commits a sin, then repents. Al-Sha‘bi and Mujahid said: He is one who remembers his sins in private and seeks Allah’s forgiveness for them. Al-Dahhak said: He is the one who constantly repents. Ibn ‘Abbas and ‘Ata’ said: He is one who frequently glorifies Allah, as in His saying: