Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "The people of the trench, the fire with its fuel, when they sat by it, and they were witnesses to what they did to the believers"

The Shaykh : This sentence is the answer to the oath. The sentence is the answer to the oath, and what is the oath? The grammarians said: "Two things have been omitted from it: the lam and qad". The intended meaning is: "Indeed, the people of the trench were killed." The people of the trench were a group of disbelievers among whom were a group of believers. So these disbelievers wanted to take revenge on the believers for their faith. And you know that the disbeliever is an enemy to whom? To the believer, as Allah the Exalted said: . So every disbeliever, however soft his speech and however broad his face toward the believer, is an enemy. Do not be deceived by the softness of speech from the disbeliever, for he is your enemy. These disbelieving people dug trenches in the ground, which are wide ditches, and filled them with firewood. And whoever remained upon his faith, they threw into this fire, burning them, meaning that it was a horrific crime and a reprehensible punishment that they burned them with fire. But the enemy’s heart was filled with malice and resentment toward the believer. They dug these trenches and filled them with firewood, and whoever did not disbelieve, they threw into them. But these who were thrown into the fire were burned in the fire of this world, but they transitioned to what? To the pleasure of the Hereafter. They transitioned to the pleasure of the Hereafter because they were killed for their religion, so they are martyrs. So they transitioned from the abode of trials, tribulations, and affliction to the abode of permanent pleasure. As for these who burned them, you will hear what Allah said about them: , meaning the one with fuel. And fuel is what the fire is kindled with, such as firewood or otherwise. And in His saying: , there is an indication that the firewood was great, and for this reason He said: .
These disbelievers were sitting by this fire, meaning around it, close to it, sitting and spectating—seeking refuge in Allah. They were spectating the torture of the believers with fire. They watched them being thrown into the fire until it burned them. But in reality, I mean these disbelievers, were pleased, but it was a pleasure that would be followed by sorrows.