Surah Al-Ahzab — Verse 64

Word Meanings:

• La‘ana (لَعَنَ): To curse, meaning to cast away from Allah’s mercy and grace.
• Sa‘īr (سَعِيرًا): A fiercely blazing, intensely hot fire.

Tafsir (Explanation):

Allah, the Almighty, declares that He has utterly removed the disbelievers from His mercy—both in this world and the Hereafter—and has prepared for them a blazing, raging fire in the life to come. This is not merely a threat; it is a certain promise from the Lord of the Worlds, whose word never fails. The fire awaits them as their eternal abode, where they will remain forever, never to exit, never to find relief.

On that Day, their faces will be turned about in the flames, and in utter regret and confusion, they will cry out: *"Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed His Messenger!"* But such remorse will come too late. They will find no protector to shield them, no helper to pull them out of the torment—for they rejected the truth when it was clear, and turned away from the mercy that was offered to them.

This verse serves as a profound warning to every soul: the path of disbelief leads only to ruin, while the path of faith and obedience leads to eternal bliss. Yet, in His infinite mercy, Allah has not left us without guidance. He sent His final Messenger ﷺ as a mercy to all mankind, and the Qur’an as a light to illuminate our way. The door of repentance remains open for those who turn back to Him before the appointed hour arrives.

So let every heart reflect: the same Lord who prepared the Fire for the disbelievers has prepared Paradise, with its rivers and gardens, for those who believe and do righteous deeds. Choose wisely, for the choice made in this fleeting world determines the eternal outcome. And know that Allah’s mercy is vast—He delights in the return of His servant, and He forgives all sins for those who sincerely repent and believe.