(6) “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, overseen by stern and severe angels who never disobey Allah in what He commands them and who do whatever they are commanded.”

That is: O you whom Allah has blessed with faith, fulfill its requirements and conditions.

Thus, “protect yourselves and your families from a Fire” characterized by these dreadful qualities. Protecting oneself means binding oneself to Allah’s commands, carrying them out in obedience, avoiding what He has forbidden, and repenting of whatever incurs Allah’s wrath and entails punishment. Protecting one’s family [and children] means disciplining and teaching them, and compelling them to obey Allah’s commands. A servant will therefore not be saved unless he fulfills what Allah has commanded regarding himself and regarding those who come(1) under his guardianship—his wives, children, and anyone else subject to his care and authority.

Allah described the Fire in these terms to deter His servants from taking His commands lightly. He said, “Its fuel is people and stones,” just as He Most High said, “Indeed, you and whatever you worship besides Allah are fuel for Hell; you will enter it.”

“Overseen by stern and severe angels”—that is, they are stern in disposition, and their rebukes are forceful(2). They terrify with their voices, frighten(3) by their appearance, and humiliate the inhabitants of the Fire with their strength. They carry out(4) Allah’s command concerning them, which has irrevocably decreed their punishment(5) and subjected them to severe chastisement. “They never disobey Allah in what He commands them and do whatever they are commanded.” This also praises the noble angels for their submission to Allah’s command and their obedience to Him in everything He commands them to do.