Overview (Verses 66 - 68)

The Reality of Resurrection
 
The passage begins with a scene in which man is shown to be astonished about the reality of resurrection. “‘What!” says man, ‘When I am once dead, shall I be raised up alive?’” (Verse 66) The first point here is that this surprise is attributed to mankind in general. In fact, this same comment was expressed by many peoples during different periods of history. Hence, it is only normal that it should be attributed to the human kind in general. The surprise, or the objection results from man being oblivious of how he came into being. Where and what was he before entering this life? The fact is that he had no existence and then he began to exist. Had man remembered this fact, it would have been easier for him to visualize his return to life after death. Hence, the answer comes in the form of a rhetorical question: “Does not man remember that We earlier created him, when he was nothing?” (Verse 67)
 
This denial of the truth of resurrection is followed by an oath implying a stern warning. God, in His glory, swears by Himself, which makes this the most solemn and serious oath, that they will all be resurrected and gathered together. This is, then, a forgone conclusion: “By your Lord, We shall most certainly bring them forth.” (Verse 68) But they will not be alone. They will be driven “together with the evil ones.” (Verse 68) This shows them to be one category with the evil ones who always incite them to deny the truth of faith. Thus the two groups are leaders and followers.
 
At this point, a vivid picture is drawn showing them sitting on their knees around hell, in total misery and humiliation: “Then We shall most certainly gather them, on their knees, around hell.” (Verse 68) It is a fearsome scene, with multitudes upon multitudes of people brought together to the vicinity of hell and made to sit on their knees around it, suffering its heat and watching its fierce fire burn. They expect to be thrown into it at any time. They, thus, feel their misery to be compounded with humiliation.

Overview (Verses 66 - 68)

The Reality of Resurrection
 
The passage begins with a scene in which man is shown to be astonished about the reality of resurrection. “‘What!” says man, ‘When I am once dead, shall I be raised up alive?’” (Verse 66) The first point here is that this surprise is attributed to mankind in general. In fact, this same comment was expressed by many peoples during different periods of history. Hence, it is only normal that it should be attributed to the human kind in general. The surprise, or the objection results from man being oblivious of how he came into being. Where and what was he before entering this life? The fact is that he had no existence and then he began to exist. Had man remembered this fact, it would have been easier for him to visualize his return to life after death. Hence, the answer comes in the form of a rhetorical question: “Does not man remember that We earlier created him, when he was nothing?” (Verse 67)
 
This denial of the truth of resurrection is followed by an oath implying a stern warning. God, in His glory, swears by Himself, which makes this the most solemn and serious oath, that they will all be resurrected and gathered together. This is, then, a forgone conclusion: “By your Lord, We shall most certainly bring them forth.” (Verse 68) But they will not be alone. They will be driven “together with the evil ones.” (Verse 68) This shows them to be one category with the evil ones who always incite them to deny the truth of faith. Thus the two groups are leaders and followers.
 
At this point, a vivid picture is drawn showing them sitting on their knees around hell, in total misery and humiliation: “Then We shall most certainly gather them, on their knees, around hell.” (Verse 68) It is a fearsome scene, with multitudes upon multitudes of people brought together to the vicinity of hell and made to sit on their knees around it, suffering its heat and watching its fierce fire burn. They expect to be thrown into it at any time. They, thus, feel their misery to be compounded with humiliation.