Tafseer of The Groups · Az-Zumar · 39:71
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.
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 statement: ( وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ ) (And those who disbelieved are driven to Hell (jahannam).) He says: and those who disbelieved in Allah are driven together to His Fire, which He has prepared for them, on the Day of Resurrection, in groups — group after group, and party after party.
As Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement: ( زُمَرًا ) he said: groups.
And His statement: ( إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا ) — its seven gates ( وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا ) — its keepers: ( أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ ) — He means: the Book of Allah that was sent down to His messengers, and His proofs with which He sent His messengers to their communities ( وَيُنْذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا ) — He says: and they warned you of that which you will encounter from yourselves on this Day. And it is possible that its meaning is: and they warned you of your destination toward this Day. ( قَالُوا بَلَى ) — He says: those who disbelieved said, in reply to the keepers of Hell (jahannam): "Yes indeed, messengers truly came to us from among us, and they warned us of our meeting with this Day." ( وَلَكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ ) — He says: they said: but the word of Allah has become due — that His punishment (ʿadhāb) for the disbelievers in Him rests upon us because of our disbelief in Him.
As Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement: ( وَلَكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ ): because of their deeds.
