Surah An-Naba — Verse 25

Word Meanings:

• Ḥamīm (حَمِيمًا): Water that has reached the utmost degree of heat — boiling, scalding water.
• Ghassāq (غَسَّاقًا): According to the most authoritative interpretations, this refers to the pus, blood, and foul discharge that flows from the bodies of the inhabitants of Hellfire. Some scholars also interpret it as an intensely cold drink that burns with extreme coldness (zamharīr), while others combine both meanings — something that burns due to its extreme heat or extreme cold.

Explanation of the Verse:

After describing the terrifying reality of Hellfire as a place of waiting and recompense for the disbelievers, Allah Almighty informs us of the only food and drink that its inhabitants will ever taste. They will not find any cool drink to quench their burning thirst, nor any food that could soothe the agony of the scorching flames. The only exception — and what an exception it is! — is boiling, scalding water that tears through their insides, and ghassāq, the putrid, foul-smelling pus and discharge oozing from the wounds of the damned.

This is not a punishment that comes upon them unjustly; rather, it is a precise and fitting recompense for the deeds they committed in this worldly life. They rejected the truth, oppressed others, and lived in arrogance and disobedience — so their reward matches their actions. Every sip they take and every morsel they swallow only increases their torment, for the boiling water burns their faces and scalds their intestines, and the ghassāq is so repulsive that even the mere thought of it turns one's stomach.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, pause for a moment and reflect on this vivid description. The All-Merciful, the Most Compassionate, has warned us clearly so that we may never have to experience this reality. He did not leave us in ignorance — He sent His messengers, revealed His books, and gave us countless opportunities to turn back to Him. This verse is not meant to frighten us into despair, but to awaken our hearts and guide us toward the path of salvation.

The door of repentance is wide open. No matter how many sins you have committed, Allah's mercy surpasses His wrath. The same Lord who described the torment of Hellfire also calls out to His servants: *"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).

Choose today — will you be among those who taste the boiling water and foul discharge, or among those who are promised rivers of pure water, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, and rivers of honey that is clear and sweet? The choice is yours, and the time is now.