Surah Maryam — Verse 71

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• "Waariduha" (وَارِدُهَا): The one who arrives at it or comes upon it — referring here to passing over the bridge (As-Sirāt) that stretches across Hellfire.
• "Hatman" (حَتْمًا): An inevitable, decreed matter that is binding and unavoidable.
• "Maqdiyyan" (مَّقْضِيًّا): Decided and ordained by Allah’s will, with no possibility of being overturned.

Explanation of the Verse:

This noble verse addresses all of humanity — every single person, believer and disbeliever alike — and declares that there is not one among you who will not come upon Hellfire. This "coming upon" refers to the crossing over the bridge (As-Sirāt) that is laid across the top of Hell. For the believers, this crossing will be swift and safe, like the blink of an eye, a flash of lightning, or the passing of wind — depending on their deeds and faith. For the disbelievers and sinners, however, it will be a terrifying and difficult passage, and they will fall into the Fire as a just consequence of their rejection and disobedience.

This matter is not a possibility or a threat that might or might not occur — rather, it is an absolute certainty. Allah has decreed it as an inevitable reality that must take place. It is a binding judgment from your Lord, O Prophet, that no power can repel and no intercession can prevent from being fulfilled. This decree was recorded in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfūth) and is part of Allah’s perfect wisdom and justice.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

Dear reader, let this verse awaken your heart! If every soul must pass over the bridge above the Fire, then what is your preparation for that moment? The believer who lives in obedience to Allah will find that crossing easy and light, while the negligent one will find it heavy and perilous. This is not meant to frighten you into despair, but to inspire you into action. Allah, in His infinite mercy, has already shown you the path to safety — through faith, sincere repentance, and righteous deeds. The decree of passing over the Fire is universal, but the outcome is not: for the righteous, it is a passage to eternal bliss; for the wicked, it is a fall into ruin. So race toward Allah’s forgiveness and His Paradise, which is as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Him and follow His guidance. Let this certainty of the crossing be a motivation to purify your heart, guard your tongue, and fill your days with what pleases your Lord — for the wise one is he who prepares for the journey before the journey begins.