Thus, Allah has made deeds a means of entering Paradise, the substance of its bliss, and the foundation of its happiness.
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(25–37) “As for the one who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, ‘If only I had not been given my record, nor known what my reckoning was! If only my death had been the end! My wealth has not availed me. My authority has vanished from me.’ ‘Seize him and shackle him. Then cast him into Hellfire. Then thread him through a chain seventy cubits long. For he did not believe in Allah the Almighty, nor did he urge the feeding of the poor.’”
These are the people of misery. They will be given the records of their evil deeds (1) in their left hands, thereby distinguishing them and subjecting them to humiliation, shame, and public disgrace. Overcome with anxiety, grief, and humiliation, each one will say, “If only I had not been given my record,” for it heralds his entry into the Fire and eternal ruin.
“Nor known what my reckoning was!” That is: If only I had been utterly forgotten, never resurrected or called to account. Hence he says:
“If only my death had been the end!” That is: If only my death had been the death after which there was no resurrection.
He then turns to his wealth and authority, only to find them a burden upon him. He sent none of his wealth ahead for his Hereafter, and it did not avail him as a ransom from Allah’s punishment (3). He therefore says, “My wealth has not availed me.” That is, it brought me no benefit: in this world, I sent none of it ahead; and in the Hereafter, the time when it could have benefited me has passed.
“My authority has vanished from me.” That is, it has disappeared and faded away. Neither his numerous armies, nor his formidable resources, (4) nor his immense prestige benefited him. Rather, all of it vanished into the wind; because of it, all gainful ventures and profits were forfeited, and in their place came anxiety, grief, and sorrow. Then the order will be given for his punishment, and the harsh and stern guards of Hell will be told, “Seize him and shackle him.” That is, place an iron collar around his neck that will choke him.
“Then cast him into Hellfire.” That is, turn him over upon its embers and flames.
“Then thread him through a chain seventy cubits long”—one of the chains of Hell, which are intensely hot. That is, string him upon it by passing it into his anus and out through his mouth, then suspend him by it. He will continue to suffer this dreadful torment. What a wretched torment and punishment, and how woeful is the lot of one subjected to rebuke and reproach!
The reason that brought him to this place was that “he did not believe in Allah the Almighty”: he disbelieved in his Lord, stubbornly opposed His messengers, and rejected the truth they brought.
“Nor did he urge the feeding of the poor.” That is, his heart contained no mercy by which he might show compassion to the poor and needy. Thus, he neither fed them [from his own wealth] nor encouraged others to feed them, because his heart lacked any moral restraint. This is because happiness rests upon and derives its substance from two things: sincerity to Allah, whose foundation is faith in Allah; and kindness toward creation in its many forms, one of the greatest of which is relieving the dire need of the needy by feeding them that upon which they subsist. These people possessed neither sincerity nor kindness, and therefore deserved what they received.