**{Guard yourselves}** (Qū anfusakum): Meaning, by refraining from what Allah Almighty has forbidden you. Al-Muqatil said: It means the Muslim should discipline himself and his family, commanding them to good and forbidding them from evil. In *Al-Kashshaf*, it is stated: **{Guard yourselves}** by abandoning sins and performing acts of obedience, **{and your families}** by holding them accountable for what you hold yourselves accountable for. Another view is: **{Guard yourselves}** from what your own souls invite you to, as the souls command evil. It was also read: **{wa ahlīkum}** (and your families) in apposition to the *waw* of **{yā ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū qū}** (O you who believe, guard), and the apposition is appropriate due to the pause (fāṣil).

**{a Fire}** (nāran): A type of Fire that is kindled only by people and stones. According to Ibn Abbas, it refers to the stones of sulfur, because they are the hottest things when ignited. It was also read: **{waqūduhā}** (its fuel) with a *ḍammah* (vowel mark).

**{Over it are angels}** (ʿalayhā malā’ikah): Meaning the nineteen Zabāniyah (keepers of Hell) and their assistants, **{harsh and severe}** (ghilāẓun shidād). This refers to roughness and severity in their physical forms (bodies), or harshness and sternness in their actions. It is not unlikely that they possess these qualities in their creation, or in their actions, being severe towards the enemies of Allah and merciful towards His allies, as Allah Almighty says: **{harsh against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves}** (Al-Fatḥ: 29).

His saying, **{They do what they are commanded}** (wa yafʿalūna mā yu’marūn), indicates their severity stems from the command; they feel no compassion in executing the commands of Allah Almighty and taking vengeance upon His enemies. This implies that the angels are tasked in the Hereafter with what Allah commands and forbids them, and disobedience from them would constitute contravening command and prohibition.

And His saying, **{They are commanded}**... **{O you who disbelieve! Make no excuses today}** (Yā ayyuhal-ladhīna kafarū lā taʿtadhirū al-yawm). After mentioning the severity of the punishment by Fire and the severity of the angels in taking vengeance upon the enemies, He said: **{Make no excuses today}**. This means it will be said to them: Do not make excuses today, as repentance (tawbah) is not accepted after entering the Fire, so your excuses will be of no benefit to you. His saying, **{You are only being recompensed for what you used to do}** (Innamā tujzawna mā kuntum taʿmalūn), means that your evil deeds alone have necessitated this punishment upon you according to wisdom.

In this verse, there are discussions:

First Inquiry: Allah addressed the polytheists when He said: **{But if you do not—and you will never do it—then fear the Fire whose fuel is people and stones}** and He said: **{prepared for the disbelievers}** (Al-Baqarah: 24). Since He prepared it for the disbelievers, why address the believers? We say: Although the ranks of the sinners (*fāsiqūn*) are above the ranks of the disbelievers, they are in the same abode with the disbelievers. Thus, the believers are told: **{Guard yourselves}** by avoiding sinfulness, lest you be neighbors to those for whom this Fire is prepared. It is also plausible that they are commanded to guard against apostasy.

Second Inquiry: How can the angels be harsh and severe when they are spirits (*arwāḥ*)? We say: The harshness and severity relate to their attributes (*ṣifāt*), not their essence (*dhāt*), since they are spirits. This explanation is closer to the truth than other opinions.

Third Inquiry: Regarding His saying, **{They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them}** (Lā yaʿṣūna Allāha mā amarahum), what is the difference in meaning from **{and they do what they are commanded}** (wa yafʿalūna mā yu’marūn)? What is the benefit of mentioning both? We say: These two phrases do not have the same meaning. The meaning of the first is that they accept His commands, commit to them, and do not deny them. The meaning of the second, as mentioned in *Al-Kashshāf*, is that they *execute* what they are commanded to do.

**{O you who believe! Repent to Allah with sincere repentance (tawbah naṣūḥā), that perhaps your Lord will expiate your sins and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, on the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right hands. They will say, "Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent."}**

**{O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be severe toward them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.}**