Tafseer of The Inevitable · Al-Waaqia · 56:41
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
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 saying: وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ("And the people of the left hand — what are the people of the left hand!"). The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says — thereby causing His Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ to marvel at the inhabitants of the Fire (al-nār): وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ("And the people of the left hand"), that is, those who are driven along the left side from the place of the reckoning to the Fire; مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ("what are the people of the left hand!"), meaning: what awaits them, and what is prepared for them?
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His saying: وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ("And the people of the left hand — what are the people of the left hand!"): that is, what awaits them, and what is prepared for them?
