⦗69 - 76⦘ “Have you not considered those who dispute Allah’s signs? How can they be turned away? Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers will soon know, when shackles are around their necks and they are bound in chains, dragged through boiling water, and then set ablaze in the Fire. Then they will be asked, ‘Where are those whom you used to associate with Allah besides Him?’ They will say, ‘They have vanished from us. In fact, we never invoked anything before.’ This is how Allah leads the disbelievers astray. This is because you used to exult upon the earth without right and revel arrogantly. Enter the gates of Hell, remaining there forever. What a wretched abode for the arrogant!”
“Have you not considered those who dispute Allah’s signs,” which are plain and clear, and wondered at their appalling condition? “How can they be turned away?” That is, how can they turn aside from them, and where can they go after such a complete clarification? Do they find clear proofs that contradict Allah’s signs? No, by Allah. Or do they find specious arguments that accord with their desires and wield them in defense of their falsehood? How wretched was the exchange they made and the choice they made for themselves when they rejected the Book that came to them from Allah and what Allah sent His messengers with—those who are the best of creation, the most truthful, and the greatest in intellect. Their only recompense is the blazing Fire. Allah therefore threatened them with its torment, saying: “They will soon know.”
“When shackles are around their necks,” leaving them unable to move, “and they are bound in chains,” by which they are fastened together with their devils. “They will be dragged through boiling water,” meaning water of intensely searing heat. “Then they will be set ablaze in the Fire”: Allah will kindle tremendous flames over them, and they will suffer their burning. They will then be rebuked for their polytheism and falsehood.
It will be said to them: “Where are those whom you used to associate with Allah besides Him?” Did they benefit you or ward off any of the punishment from you? “They will say, ‘They have vanished from us,’” meaning that they are absent and have not appeared. Even if they had appeared, they would have been of no benefit. They will then resort to denial, saying: “In fact, we never invoked anything before.” One possible interpretation is that they intend an outright denial, imagining that it will benefit and help them. The other—and more apparent—interpretation is that they intend to acknowledge the falsehood of the divinity ascribed to those whom they worshipped and that Allah has no partner in reality. They had merely been astray and mistaken by worshipping that which possessed no divinity at all. This is supported by His statement: “This is how Allah leads the disbelievers astray.” ⦗743⦘ That is, such was the misguidance in which they lived in this world—a misguidance plainly evident to everyone—so much so that they themselves will acknowledge its falsehood on the Day of Resurrection. The meaning of Allah’s statement will then become clear to them: “Those who invoke supposed partners besides Allah follow nothing; they follow only conjecture.” This is also indicated by His statements: “On the Day of Resurrection they will disown your worship of them,” and: “Who is more astray than one who invokes besides Allah those who will not answer him until the Day of Resurrection?”—and the verses that follow.
It will be said to the inhabitants of the Fire: “This”—the punishment inflicted upon you in its various forms—“is because you used to exult upon the earth without right and revel arrogantly.” That is, you rejoiced in the falsehood you followed and in the branches of knowledge by which you opposed the knowledge brought by the messengers. You also swaggered arrogantly over Allah’s servants out of insolence, aggression, wrongdoing, and disobedience. Allah likewise says near the end of this surah: “When their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they exulted in the knowledge they possessed.”
Similarly, Korah’s people told him: “Do not exult. Allah does not love those who exult.”
This is the blameworthy joy that incurs punishment, unlike the praiseworthy joy of which Allah said: “Say: ‘In Allah’s grace and mercy—in that let them rejoice.’” This is joy in beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds.
“Enter the gates of Hell,” each entering one of its levels according to his deeds. “Remaining there forever”: they will never leave it. “What a wretched abode for the arrogant!”—an abode in which they are disgraced, humiliated, confined, and tormented, and made to alternate between its searing heat and bitter cold.