Living The Quran
From Issue: 649 [Read full issue]
Wretched Resting Place
Al Baqara (The Cow) - Chapter 2: Verse 206
"When it is said to him, 'Have fear of God', arrogance drives him to take pride in sinful actions. Hell becomes him, a dismal resting place."
Intent on pursuing their vile deeds, these people become immune to advice and reform; if anything, they grow more obstinate and arrogant. They begin to take pride in spreading evil and corruption with no remorse, guilt or fear of God.
Qurtubi records Abdullah Ibn Masud as having said: "It is enough of a sin for a man that his brother should tell him, 'Fear Allah,' and he should reply, 'Look after yourself. Does a man of your sort lecture me?!"
This snobbery, contention and lack of shame are met with a most swift appropriate punishment - Hell. Hell would be more than sufficient retribution. For Hell is the most terrible of all punishments: savage, violent, consuming everything thrown into it. With unmistakable irony, the verse describes Hell as their "resting place".
Compiled From:
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Syed Qutb, Vol. 1, p. 234
"Tafsir Ishraq Al-Ma'ani" - Syed Iqbal Zaheer, vol. 1, p. 247