Surah Ghafir (The Forgiver) 40 : 47

Explanatory Note

The verse that follows tells us of something that happens after resurrection. The unbelievers are shown arguing in hell: "The weak will say to those who were arrogant, 'We have been your followers, so can you relieve us of some share of the fire?" This means that the weak are together with the arrogant in the fire of hell. The weak have not been spared on account of their weakness, or their being driven like cattle, having no say or choice. God granted them a position of honour, which equipped them to exercise free choice and to be responsible for what they choose. They relinquished all this and followed their arrogant leaders instead. They did not object to anything the leaders said. In fact, it did not occur to them that they could object. They did not think about what their arrogant leaders said to them, or the errors they landed them in: "We have been your followers." The fact of their relinquishing responsibility and what God granted them could never serve as extenuating circumstances in God's sight. Therefore, they will be in hell, driven there by their leaders, just as they used to drive them like sheep in the life of this world. We see them asking their leaders: "Can you relieve us of some share of the fire?''  This question is a reminder of what such leaders used to assert, pledging to protect their followers against evil and harm.