The Holy Qor-an 002:040
وَالَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَكَذَّبُوۡا بِـاٰيٰتِنَآ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ
Wul-la-zee-na-ka-fa-roo-wa-kuz-za-boo-bay-aa-yaa-tay-naa Olaa-aiy-ka-us-haa-boon-naar-hoom-fee-haa-khaa-lay-doo-n.
And those who disbelieved and belied our signs All are inmates of the fire. They will stay in it.
The first fourteen (14) words are common in verses 002:040 and 064:011
- وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Conj., Connects words, phrases or clauses; also; but; additionally; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
- ٱلَّذِينَ — La-zee-na — Those who (= pl., m, 3rd person. Refers to the disbelievers)
- كَفَرُوۡا — Ka-fa-roo — Disbelieved (= v., past., pl., 3rd person. Denied, refused or rejected the Faith or Belief in Allah, the Holy Qor-aan, Iss-laam and become Moslem. See Commentary titled as the BELIEVE and DISBELIEVE)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., Connects words, phrases or clauses; also; but; additionally; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
The next 3 words are in verses 002:040, 003:012, 062:006 and 078:029
- كَذَّبُوۡا — Kuz-za-boo — They belied (= v., past., pl., 3rd person. Denied; derided, denounced, disowned, opposed, misrepresented, negated; rejected. Any translation in the present tense is not of what the Holy Qor-aan has stated in the past tense)
- بِ — Bay — With (= Literally the word بِ means with)
- اٰيٰتِ — Aa-yaa-tay — Signs (= n., pl of … An argument, corroboration, indication, insinuation, pointer, portent, sign, suggestion, symbol or token. See Note 002:074)
- نَآ — Naa — Our (= pro., pl., 1st person. Us. Used with God’s name it is the the authoritative way a higher-up talks to a subordinate)
- اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ — Olaa-aiy-ka — They all (= Aforesaid facts, persons or things. Here the reference is to the said folks, people; sinners; wrong-doers)
- اَصۡحٰبُ — Us-haa-bo..(on) — Inmates (= pl., 1. Associates; companions; folks; friends; people. 2. Citizens; denizens; dwellers; families; fellows; heirs; inhabitants; inmates; live-ins; natives; occupants; occupiers; populace; population; residents; tenants. 3. Controllers; masters owners; possessors. Often added are qualifications of’ rightfully deserving / well-deserved’)
- ٱلنَّارِ — Naa-ray — The Fire (= Anger, punishment or wrath of Allah; hell; hell fire; purgatory. The Fire of punishment. Literally, the rapid sustained reaction or source of releasing light and heat. The rule in اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ is also repeated several times including in 002:040, 002:082, 002:218, 002:258, 003:117)
- هُمۡ — Hoom — They (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ ‘the inmates of fire’)
- فِىۡ — Fee — In (= Inside a duration, time, period, place, phenomenon or thing. Concerning. In reference. Regarding. Relative to
- هَا — Haa — It (= pro., s., f., in 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid ٱلنَّارِ the fire)
- خٰلِدُوۡنَ — Khaa-lay-doo-n — Will stay (= Those who abide, dwell, live or reside. To add words like everlastingly, for ever after, forever, permanently and perpetually is inappropriate for those who will go to hell. Adding such a qualification is appropriate only for the residents of the Paradise. See Note below)
* Note 002:040. The word خٰلِدُوۡنَ literally means they will abide, dwell, live, remain, stay or reside ‘for an unspecified length of time’. It is used in verses like 002:026, 002:040, 002:082, 002:083, 002:218, 002:258, 002:276 and 003:117. It is also used in a different format such as in [ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَا ] in other places like 002:163, 003:089, 004:014, 059:018, 098:007 and 098:009.
Some scholars added the word ‘forever’ in translating this word. The concept ‘for a long time’ in the meanings of this word was thus replaced by that in forever or without ever ending. Such addition is appropriate in case of heavens and paradise as a perpetual reward to the righteous to continue forever for the good they did in this life.
But attaching words like forever, perpetual or everlasting to Hell, Hell-Fire or Purgatory as a punishment for doing wrongs in this life is different. Many scholars insist that any human addition, extension, extrapolation, minimization or subtraction to the simple and straightforward meanings of the original text because of any spiritual or temporal, social or cultural, punitive or reformative consideration is NOT warranted. Such view appears to be right.
Adding the concept of ‘forever‘ to the “punishment for wrongs done in this temporary life on earth” contradicts the reported quotations [Ahaadeeth] of the Holy Prophet, s.a.w, such as ‘A day will come when the gates of hell will flap and flutter in the wind” which imply as follows.
- That the fires of hell would have died and there would be no more need to guard its gates.
- That all those sent there initially would have finished serving sentences and completing punishment for wrongs they did in this life.
- That people after due correction [as in a Correction Facility] or cure [as in a hospital] would have finally become fit to be admitted to the Paradise.
- See also 002:168 in the translation of the word خٰرِجِيۡنَ [Kha-ray-jee-na = Those coming out and exiting]
