Juz 24: Az-Zumar 32 to Fuṣṣilat 46
Section 6 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
6. The Final Scene: Believers Enter Paradise, Disbelievers Enter Hellfire
The concluding portion of Surah Az-Zumar presents one of the most vivid and moving depictions of the final destination of humanity. These verses are frequently recited by Imams during prayers due to their powerful impact on the listener, as they transport us to witness the ultimate outcomes of our worldly choices.
The scene begins with the fate of those who rejected faith:
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Jahannam in groups until, when they reach it, its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say to them: 'Did messengers from among yourselves not come to you, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you about the meeting of this day of yours?' They will say: 'Yes indeed, but the word of punishment has come true against the disbelievers.'”
The imagery is powerful—disbelievers are not merely invited to Hellfire but are "driven" (سِيقَ) there in groups. The use of the passive voice emphasizes their complete lack of control over their fate at this stage. Upon arrival, they face a confrontation with reality through the questioning of the gatekeepers. This questioning is not for information but to establish that justice is being served—they had been warned, they had acknowledged the messengers, yet they had persisted in disbelief.
In stark contrast, the next verses describe the journey of the faithful:
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
“And those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened, and its keepers will say to them: 'Peace be upon you. You have done well. So enter it, living there forever.'”
Though the same word "سِيقَ" (were driven/led) is used, the destination transforms the entire experience. The believers arrive at Paradise to find the gates already opened in anticipation of their arrival—a subtle difference from Hellfire's gates, which are opened only upon the disbelievers' arrival.
Most striking is the greeting. Instead of questioning, the believers receive "سَلَامٌ عَلَ