Tafseer of The Night · Al-Lail · 92:11
And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?
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 statement concerning the explanation of His word, the Exalted: وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى ("And his wealth will not avail him when he falls down") (11).
He — exalted be His praise — means by His word وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ ("And his wealth will not avail him"): what thing will this wealth ward off, on the Day of Resurrection, from this person who was stingy with his wealth and deemed himself independent of his Lord? إِذَا ("when") he تَرَدَّى ("falls down").
Then the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) differed concerning the explanation of His word: إِذَا تَرَدَّى . Some of them said: its interpretation is: when he falls down into Hell (jahannam), that is to say: he falls into it and tumbles down.
* Mention of who said that:
Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: al-Ashjaʿī related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Khālid, on the authority of Abū Ṣāliḥ: وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى , he said: into Hell (jahannam). Abū Kurayb said: al-Ashjaʿī heard that from Ismāʿīl.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word: إِذَا تَرَدَّى , he said: when he falls down into the Fire (al-nār).
Others said: No, its meaning is: when he dies.
* Mention of who said that:
Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: Wakīʿ related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid: وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى , he said: when he dies.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word: إِذَا تَرَدَّى , he said: when he dies.
Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: al-Ashjaʿī related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid, he said: when he dies.
The correct of the two statements in this matter is the statement of the one who says: its meaning is: when he falls down into Hell (jahannam), because that is the well-known meaning of "al-taraddī." However, when the meaning of dying is intended, one says: "radiya fulān" (so-and-so perished), and one rarely says "taraddā."
