Discussion of the interpretation of: “Its fruit is like the heads of devils. So they will surely eat from it and fill their bellies with it. Then, after that, they will surely have a mixture of boiling water. Then, after that, their return will be to the Hellfire. Indeed, they found their fathers lost, so they, following in their footsteps, hasten. And indeed, before them, most of the former ones were lost.”
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The Shaykh : So, I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan. Allah the Exalted said: [As-Saffat 37:69-71] What is the meaning of “devils” here in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [As-Saffat 37:65]?
The student: ...life... The correct view is that the devils are in their actual reality.
The Shaykh : And if someone asks you, how does Allah liken something to something unknown?
The student: Because of the ugliness of the image.
The Shaykh : What is known about the heads of the devils? Has anyone seen them?
The student: It is the custom of the Arabs...
The Shaykh : It is the custom of the Arabs that when they want to disparage something and make it repulsive, they liken it to devils. The Qur'an was revealed in a clear Arabic language. Now, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:, does this sentence contain emphasis or not?
The student: The lam.
The Shaykh : The letter lam only.
The student: And the oath.
The Shaykh : There is no oath, Abd al-Rahman.
The student: Inna and the lam.
The Shaykh : Inna and the lam. If someone asks, what is the purpose of this emphasis?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : That is, perhaps someone might say that since it is described in this way, no one will eat from it. A person might doubt that they will eat from it because its fruit resembles the heads of devils. So Allah affirmed that by saying: from it. Now,
What does the phrase “and they will fill their bellies with it” imply...?
The student: Intense hunger...
The Shaykh : That is, they will be afflicted with a disease of gluttony such that they will not be satisfied. Now, will they be afflicted with something similar in drinking? Brother, behind you, Bandar.
The student: Yes, they will be afflicted with it, for Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Waqi'ah 56:55]
The Shaykh : For Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Waqi'ah 56:55] So they will be afflicted with a disease of gluttony in eating and drinking so that their punishment increases. We ask Allah for well-being. Regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Then, after that, they will surely have a mixture of it,” what is the meaning of “mixture” (shawb), Abd al-Rahman?
The student: That it is intensely hot and that it is mixed... So they drink boiling water...
The Shaykh : And the boiling water is hot water.[As-Saffat 37:68] Guidance from Allah. Brother... go back behind the guidance of Allah. Were they not in the Hellfire initially?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : How can it be that “their return will be to the Hellfire”?
The student: ...Some interpret it by saying that they come out to the gates and then return to the original source of Hell.
The Shaykh : Correct, but we mentioned another perspective. Yes.
The student: Then, for the order of mention.
The Shaykh : That “thumma” (then) is for the order of mention and does not mean that after they eat, they return. Rather, it means that their return is mentioned after the mention of eating. Is there in the Arabic language what is called “order of mention” without “order of meaning”?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Its evidence.
The student: His saying: “That a man was prominent, then his father was prominent, then his grandfather after him was prominent”
The Shaykh :“That a man was prominent, then his father was prominent, then his grandfather after him was prominent”
Now, “Indeed, they found their fathers lost.” What is the meaning of “found” (alafu)?
The student: They found.
The Shaykh : Bring evidence from the Qur'an that “alafu” means “found.” No, the one who memorized the entire Qur'an.
The student: He is not a memorizer.
The Shaykh : He is not a memorizer of the whole thing. It appears that you are a memorizer of the surah, Fahd.
The student: ...His saying:
The Shaykh : His saying: In which surah is this?
The student: In the surah of Yusuf.
The Shaykh : In the surah of Yusuf. The path...
(69) Indeed they found their fathers astray. (70) So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps. (71) And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,
إنهم ألفوا آبائهم ضالين فهم على آثارهم يهرعون ولقد ضل قبلهم أكثر الأولينIts emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.
طلعها كأنه رؤوس الشياطينThe student: ...life... The correct view is that the devils are in their actual reality.
The Shaykh : And if someone asks you, how does Allah liken something to something unknown?
The student: Because of the ugliness of the image.
The Shaykh : What is known about the heads of the devils? Has anyone seen them?
The student: It is the custom of the Arabs...
The Shaykh : It is the custom of the Arabs that when they want to disparage something and make it repulsive, they liken it to devils. The Qur'an was revealed in a clear Arabic language. Now, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So they will surely eat from it.
فإنها لآكلون منهاThe student: The lam.
The Shaykh : The letter lam only.
The student: And the oath.
The Shaykh : There is no oath, Abd al-Rahman.
The student: Inna and the lam.
The Shaykh : Inna and the lam. If someone asks, what is the purpose of this emphasis?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : That is, perhaps someone might say that since it is described in this way, no one will eat from it. A person might doubt that they will eat from it because its fruit resembles the heads of devils. So Allah affirmed that by saying:
So they will surely eat.
فإنهم لآكلونWhat does the phrase “and they will fill their bellies with it” imply...?
The student: Intense hunger...
The Shaykh : That is, they will be afflicted with a disease of gluttony such that they will not be satisfied. Now, will they be afflicted with something similar in drinking? Brother, behind you, Bandar.
The student: Yes, they will be afflicted with it, for Allah the Exalted said:
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
فشاربون شرب الهيمThe Shaykh : For Allah the Exalted said:
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
فشاربون شرب الهيمThe student: That it is intensely hot and that it is mixed... So they drink boiling water...
The Shaykh : And the boiling water is hot water.
Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.
ثم إن مرجعهم لإلي الجحيمThe student: No.
The Shaykh : How can it be that “their return will be to the Hellfire”?
The student: ...Some interpret it by saying that they come out to the gates and then return to the original source of Hell.
The Shaykh : Correct, but we mentioned another perspective. Yes.
The student: Then, for the order of mention.
The Shaykh : That “thumma” (then) is for the order of mention and does not mean that after they eat, they return. Rather, it means that their return is mentioned after the mention of eating. Is there in the Arabic language what is called “order of mention” without “order of meaning”?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Its evidence.
The student: His saying: “That a man was prominent, then his father was prominent, then his grandfather after him was prominent”
The Shaykh :“That a man was prominent, then his father was prominent, then his grandfather after him was prominent”
Now, “Indeed, they found their fathers lost.” What is the meaning of “found” (alafu)?
The student: They found.
The Shaykh : Bring evidence from the Qur'an that “alafu” means “found.” No, the one who memorized the entire Qur'an.
The student: He is not a memorizer.
The Shaykh : He is not a memorizer of the whole thing. It appears that you are a memorizer of the surah, Fahd.
The student: ...His saying:
And they found her master by the door
وألفيا سيدها لدى البابThe Shaykh : His saying:
And they found her master by the door
وألفيا سيدها لدى البابThe student: In the surah of Yusuf.
The Shaykh : In the surah of Yusuf. The path...