Surah Al-Ghashiyah — Verse 7

Word Meanings:

• لَا يُسْمِنُ – does not make fat, does not nourish the body or add any substance to it.
• وَلَا يُغْنِي مِن جُوعٍ – does not satisfy hunger, does not remove the pangs of starvation.

Tafsir (Explanation):

This verse describes the food of the inhabitants of Hellfire, which is a thorny, bitter plant that clings to the ground — the worst and most repulsive of foods. Allah tells us that this food fails to fulfill the two primary purposes of eating: it neither nourishes the body outwardly, nor does it relieve hunger inwardly. The one who eats it remains in a state of constant weakness and starvation, gaining no strength and finding no relief. The torment is thus doubled — they are forced to eat what is foul, yet it provides no benefit whatsoever, leaving them in perpetual agony.

This is a profound reminder of the mercy of Allah in this life, where even the simplest food can sustain us and satisfy our hunger. Yet in the Hereafter, for those who reject the truth, even the most basic mercy is withheld. The verse calls upon us to reflect: if we cannot bear even a single day of hunger in this world, how could we endure an eternity where hunger is never quenched and food brings no nourishment?

Let this be a motivation to turn to Allah with sincerity, to appreciate the blessings of provision He has granted us, and to strive for His pleasure so that we may be among those who are fed and satisfied in the gardens of Paradise, where there is no hunger, no thirst, and no pain — only eternal bliss in the presence of the Most Merciful.