Tafseer of The Cave · Al-Kahf · 18:100
And We will present Hell that Day to the Disbelievers, on display -
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the word of Allah: وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا
He says: We laid bare and exposed Hell (jahannam), on the day when the trumpet is blown, to those who disbelieved in Allah, so that they will see it and perceive it, as though it were a mirage. If the act were ascribed to it itself, one would say: aʿraḍat, when it becomes visible. As ʿAmr ibn Kulthūm said:
And the Yamāma rose high and stood proudly erect, Like swords in the hands of drawn-sword bearers.
In a manner like what we have said concerning this, the exegetes also spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn Bashshār related to us, he said: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī related to us, he said: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of Salama ibn Kuhayl, he said: Abū al-Zaʿrāʾ related to us, on the authority of ʿAbdallāh — he said: The creation will stand before Allah when the trumpet is blown, as one man, then Allah, the Almighty, will appear to the creation. No creature among all those who worshipped something other than Allah will then meet Him without it being made exalted for him to follow it. He says: Then he will meet the Jews, and say: Whom did you worship? They say: We worshipped ʿUzayr. He says: Would water gladden you? They say: Yes. Then He shows them Hell while it appears like a mirage. Then he recited وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا . Then he will meet the Christians and say: Whom did you worship? They say: We worshipped the Masīḥ (Christ). He says: Would water gladden you? They say: Yes. He says: Then He shows them Hell while it appears like a mirage. Likewise for everyone who worshipped something other than Allah. Then ʿAbdallāh recited: وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ .
