اصلَوهَا اليَومَ بِما كُنتُم تَكفُرونَ
Enter it today, because of what you used to defy.
EXEGESIS
Iṣlawhā (enter it) has two probable root verbs; the first is ṣaliya, which means to light the fire or to get burnt by it. Additionally, it could mean throwing something into the fire to be burnt there. The second probable root is ṣilā, which means to commit and to follow, to keep close to and be inseparable from something.
In addition to those two, a third probable root verb would be waṣala, which means to connect, adhere, or conjoin without any pause or interruption. The author of Lisān al-ʿArab has mentioned various examples and meanings including connection between two things, adjoining them, or associating them, such as communicating with relatives, connecting hair with hair, and so on.
EXPOSITION
Ṭabrisī and Ṭūsī choose the root verb of iṣlawhā to be waṣala which indicates the meaning of abiding in the hell or adhering to it. It is similar to the word used for the daily obligatory prayers, ṣalāh, which is derived from the same root because it is adhering to the daily remembrance of God.
Because of what you used to defy: defiance here is a good translation for kufr. This shows that the leading cause for entering hell is disbelief which entails all the evils that should be burnt and purified by the fire. Of course, kufr has different levels of meanings; some levels of kufr may not necessarily lead to hell, but some other levels would unavoidably lead a person to destruction.
INSIGHTS FROM HADITH
- The Messenger of God said: ‘God does not punish any of His servants except the defiant arrogant and a deliberate rebellious against God, who refused to say “there is no god except Allah”.’
- It was revealed to Prophet Jesus (a) that hellfire: ‘Is the abode of the tyrants, the arrogant oppressors, every harsh and hard-hearted, and every swaggering boaster.’
- Imam al-Bāqir (a): ‘God will not keep someone in hellfire eternally except for the wicked ones who are disbelievers, stubborn, deviated, and polytheists; and whoever avoids the major sins among the believers will not be accounted for the minor sins.’
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
There are three causes for the evil ones to regret when they are taken to hell: the first is the humiliation and the painful punishment as it is said to them sarcastically: Taste! Indeed you are the [self-styled] mighty and noble! (44:49). The second is that their days of joy are done and have passed; there is no return from this day of punishment. The third is the great embarrassment that would cause them more pain because they were denying and rejecting the favours bestowed upon them by God (what you used to defy).
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right-hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
- Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
[1] Amthal, 14/224.
[2] Mizan, 17/103.
[3] Lane, p. 3055.
[4] https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A9/
[5] Tabrisi, 8/285.
[6] Tibyan, 8/471.
[7] Muhammad Rayshahri, Mīzān al-Ḥikmah, 1/474.
[8] Muhammad Rayshahri, Mīzān al-Ḥikmah, 1/474.
[9] Muhammad Rayshahri, Mīzān al-Ḥikmah, 1/474.
[10] Razi, 26/101.
[11] Matthew 5:27-30.
[12] Matthew 10:28.