Tafseer of The Criterion · Al-Furqaan · 25:66
Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence."
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.
And His word إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا (truly, it is an evil abode and dwelling-place) — he means: Hell (jahannam) is an evil abode and dwelling-place; by al-mustaqarr (abode) he means: resting and abiding (al-qarār), and by al-muqām (dwelling-place): residing (al-iqāmah). It is as though the meaning of the word is: Hell is an evil dwelling and dwelling-place.
If the mīm of al-muqām is pronounced with ḍamm (u-sound), it derives from al-iqāmah (residing); if it is pronounced with fatḥ (a-sound), it derives from qumtu (I stood). And it is also said: al-maqām with fatḥ (a-sound) of the mīm likewise means: the sitting-place (al-majlis). And an instance of al-muqām with ḍamm (u-sound) in the meaning of al-iqāmah (residing) is the word of Salamah ibn Jandal: "Two days: a day of gatherings and assemblies, and a day of advancing against the enemies, marching continually." And an instance of al-maqām in the meaning of the sitting-place is the word of al-ʿAbbās ibn Mirdās: "Whichever of us two is the worse, let him be led blindfolded to the assembly (al-maqāmah), so that he does not see it." That is to say: the gathering.