Surah Sad — Verse 58

Key Words and Meanings:

• Wa ākhar (وَآخَرُ): And another (type of punishment).
• Min shaklihī (مِن شَكْلِهِ): Of its kind, similar to it, or resembling it.
• Azwāj (أَزْوَاجٌ): Pairs, varieties, or multiple kinds and forms.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah Almighty tells us about the fate of the wicked and the disbelievers in the Hereafter. After mentioning in the preceding verses that they will be given boiling water to drink and pus-like filth from the wounds of the people of Hell, He now adds that there is another punishment of the same kind — meaning, just as they are tormented with scalding water and foul discharge, they will also face many other varieties and forms of torment that resemble these. The word *azwāj* (أزواج) indicates that these punishments come in pairs and multiple categories, each one different from the other, yet all equally severe and agonizing.

So the meaning is: For these wrongdoers, there is not just one type of punishment, but many different kinds of chastisement, all of which are similar in their intensity and pain. They will be subjected to one form of suffering after another — each one a fresh, unbearable torment — as a just recompense for their arrogance and rejection of the truth in this worldly life.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the reality of the Hereafter — a truth that every soul will inevitably face. The descriptions of Hell in the Qur'an are not mere stories or exaggerations; they are absolute truths revealed by the All-Knowing, All-Wise Creator, who does not need to warn us of anything that is not real. Just as a loving parent warns their child of a burning fire to protect them, our Lord — who is more merciful to us than our own mothers — has warned us of these punishments out of His immense love and care for us.

The fact that the punishments come in *pairs and varieties* shows us the perfect justice of Allah. Every sin committed in this life — whether open or hidden, whether against Allah or against His creation — will be met with its appropriate recompense. Nothing is forgotten, and nothing is left unaccounted for.

Yet, the door of repentance remains wide open. Allah does not wish to punish us; rather, He wishes to save us. He says in the Qur'an: *"Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."* (Az-Zumar 39:53).

So let this verse be a wake-up call for every soul. Let us turn back to our Lord before the day comes when no repentance will be accepted, and no plea for return will be heard. Let us strive to be among those who will instead taste the delights of Paradise — where rivers flow beneath the gardens, and where every wish is fulfilled. The choice is ours, and the time is now.