Surah ash-Shu`ara' (The Poets ) 26 : 90

Overview (Verses 90 - 104)

A Question That Needs No Answer

We then have in the present passage a scene of the Day of Judgement, which was feared by Abraham. It is so vivid that he almost sees it with his own eyes as he addresses his humble prayer to God: Paradise will be brought within sight of the God-fearing; whereas the blazing fire will be placed in full view of the ones lost in error. It shall be said to them: ‘Where is now all that you used to worship instead of God? Can they help you or even help themselves?’ They will be hurled into hell, as also those who are lost in error, and Iblīs’ hosts, all together. And there, quarrelling with one another, they will say: By God, we were obviously in error, when we deemed you equal to the Lord of all the worlds. It was only the truly guilty ones who led us astray. And now we have none to intercede for us nor any loving friend. Would that we had a second chance [in life], so that we could be believers.’ (Verses 90-102)

The scene starts with an image of heaven being brought near, so as to be within sight of the God-fearing; those who actually remained apprehensive lest they might be made to suffer God’s punishment. The fire of hell is also brought into full view of those who erred; those who strayed away from the right path and denied the Day of Judgement. As they stand within sight of hell, listening to stern rebukes for their bad deeds before they are thrown into hell, they will be first asked about the deities they used to worship. The question that will be put to them is: “Where is now all that you used to worship instead of God?” (Verses 92-93) Where are they? “Can they help you or even help themselves?” (Verse 93) No answer is heard from them. Indeed none is expected. It is only a question given by way of rebuke. Hence: “They will be hurled into hell, as also those who are lost in error, and Iblīs’ hosts, all together.” (Verses 94-95) The very word used here, kubkibū, translated as ‘hurled into’, suggests that they fall into it, one on top of another, with much noise as a result. It is the same as when a landslide occurs, immediately followed by further ones. These people who were lost in error are accompanied in hell with “Iblīs’ hosts, all together.” Indeed they are all part of Iblīs’s hosts.

We are then made to listen to them as they speak in hell, saying to the false deities and the idols they worshipped: “By God, we were obviously in error, when we deemed you equal to the Lord of all the worlds,” (Verses 97-98), worshipping you, alongside or instead of God, as if you were equal to Him. They say it now when it is too late. They put the blame on those who led them into error and prevented them from listening to divine guidance. They now wake up to the realization that it is all too late and that apportioning blame will benefit them nothing: “And now we have none to intercede for us nor any loving friend.” (Verses 100-101) Neither deity nor friend will be of any avail to us now. But then they think that if there were a possibility of returning to life, they could still mend their erring ways: “Would that we had a second chance [in life], so that we could be believers.” (Verse 102) This is nothing more than wishful thinking. There can be no return. They are already present on Judgement Day.

This is followed by the sūrah’s standard comment: “Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe. And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” (Verses 103-104) This comment is repeated in the sūrah every time the fate of any community that opposed God’s messengers is shown, whether it be the `Ād, the Thamūd or Lot’s people, and it also follows every sign given to any group who denied God and His messengers. The scene from the Day of Judgement that we have been discussing is shown here in place of a scene of punishment in this world. It shows the end faced by Abraham’s people, and indeed the ultimate end of all idolatry. Hence, it delivers the same lesson in every historical account. We should remember that scenes of the Day of Judgement are shown in the Qur’ān as if they are taking place in front of our eyes so as to touch our hearts and souls in the same way as they are touched when reflecting on the fate of past communities.