Tafseer of The Believers · Al-Muminoon · 23:104
The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles.
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.
His word تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ — He says: the Fire scorches their faces.
As al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, who said: Ibn ʿAbbās said concerning تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ : he said: it blasts them. وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ — and kālūḥ (grimacing) is when the lips draw back from the teeth so that the teeth become visible, as al-Aʿshā said:
"And what is due to him — whose like is not known — at the hour when the corner of the mouth grimaces back from the fang"
The explanation of the text is therefore: the flame of the Fire scorches their faces and burns them, while they are therein with their lips drawn back from the teeth, because the Fire burns their faces.
In accordance with what we have said the exegetes spoke.
Mention of those who said that: ʿAlī related to me, saying: ʿAbd Allāh related to me, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ : he says: scowling (ʿābisūn).
Ibn Bashshār related to us, saying: Yaḥyā and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān related to us, they said: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of Abī Isḥāq, on the authority of Abī al-Aḥwaṣ, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh, concerning His word وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ : he said: have you not seen the head that has been roasted? The teeth are visible and the lips are drawn back.
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Isrāʾīl, on the authority of Abī Isḥāq, on the authority of Abī al-Aḥwaṣ, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh — he recited this verse تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ … the verse — he said: have you not seen the head that has been roasted in the fire? The lips are drawn back and the teeth are visible.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word وَهُمْ فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ : he said: have you not seen the sheep when the fire touches their faces — how that looks?
