Al-A'raf: (50-51) And the inhabitants of the Fire called out...

After Allah, the Exalted, explained what the inhabitants of the Heights (Al-A'raf) say to the inhabitants of the Fire, He followed it by mentioning what the inhabitants of the Fire say to the inhabitants of Paradise.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When the inhabitants of the Heights went to Paradise, the inhabitants of the Fire became hopeful for relief after despair. They said: "O Lord, we have relatives among the inhabitants of Paradise, so permit us to see them and speak to them." Allah commanded Paradise, and it shifted. Then the inhabitants of Hell looked at their relatives in Paradise and what they were enjoying of bliss, and they recognized them. The inhabitants of Paradise looked at their relatives among the inhabitants of Hell but did not recognize them, as their faces had blackened and they had become another form.

So, the inhabitants of the Fire called out to the inhabitants of Paradise by their names and said: {Pour down upon us some water} (Al-A'raf: 50). They specifically requested water due to the intense burning and flames within their insides because of the severity of Hell's heat. The phrase {Pour down} (Afiḍū) indicates that the inhabitants of Paradise are in a higher location than the inhabitants of the Fire.

Objection: Did they ask with hope and possibility, or with despair?

Answer: What we narrated from Ibn Abbas indicates that they asked for water while it was possible to obtain it. Al-Qadi stated: Rather, it was with despair, because they had already recognized the permanence of their punishment and that it would not cease for them. However, one who despairs of something may still ask for it, as the proverb says: "The drowning man clings to foam," even if he knows it will not save him.

The phrase {or from what Allah has provided for you} (Al-A'raf: 50) is interpreted by some to mean fruits, and by others to mean food. This statement indicates the intensity of their thirst and hunger.

It is narrated from Abu Ad-Darda' that Allah, the Exalted, sends severe hunger upon the inhabitants of the Fire until their torment increases. They cry out for relief, and they are given ḍarīʿ (a thorny, bitter plant) which neither nourishes nor satisfies hunger. Then they cry out again and are given food that causes choking. Then they mention drink and cry out, and they are given boiling water and pus, brought by iron hooks, which cuts what is in their stomachs. They then cry out to the inhabitants of Paradise, as mentioned in this verse. The inhabitants of Paradise reply: "Indeed, Allah has forbidden them for the disbelievers." They then say to Malik (the keeper of Hell): {Let your Lord put an end to us} (Az-Zukhruf: 77). He replies to them after a thousand years, saying what has been mentioned previously. They then say: {Our Lord, remove us from it} (Al-Mu'minun: 107), and the response is: {Be gone into it, and speak not to Me} (Al-Mu'minun: 108). At that point, they despair of all good and begin to gasp and sigh.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned regarding the description of the inhabitants of Paradise that they see Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, every Friday. Each one of them has a thousand gates. When they see Allah, an angel enters from every gate carrying noble gifts, saying: "The wood of the trees of Paradise is emerald, its dust is red gold, its fronds are garments and clothing for the inhabitants of Paradise, and its fruit is like pitchers or buckets, whiter than silver, softer than butter, and sweeter than honey, having no hard core." This is the description of the inhabitants of Paradise, and the description of the inhabitants of the Fire.

I read in some books that a reciter recited the verse concerning the disbelievers: {Pour down upon us some water or from what Allah has provided for you} in the admonition of the Master Abu Ali Ad-Daqqaq. The Master said: Their desire and craving in the worldly life were for drinking and eating, and in the Hereafter, they remained in this state. This indicates that a person dies upon what he lived upon, and is resurrected upon what he died upon.

Then Allah, the Exalted, clarified that when these disbelievers asked the inhabitants of Paradise for water and food, the inhabitants of Paradise said: {Indeed, Allah has forbidden them for the disbelievers} (Al-A'raf: 51). There is no doubt that this signifies complete disappointment.

Furthermore, Allah, the Exalted, described these disbelievers by saying that they took their religion as amusement and play. There are two interpretations for this:

1. The First Interpretation: That which they believed to be their religion, they treated it as a game and were not serious about it.
2. The Second Interpretation: That they took amusement and play as their religion for themselves. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) meant the mockers who divided themselves.

Then He said: {and the worldly life deluded them} (Al-A'raf: 51). This is a metaphor because the worldly life does not truly delude; rather, it means that delusion occurred during this worldly life. This is because a person hopes for long life, a good living, abundant wealth, and high status. Due to the intensity of his desire for these things, he becomes veiled from seeking religion, drowned in the pursuit of the world.

Then, after Allah, the Exalted, described those disbelievers with these characteristics, He said: {So today We will forget them as they forgot the meeting of this Day} (Al-A'raf: 51). There are two opinions regarding the meaning of this forgetting:

1. The First Opinion: That forgetting means abandonment. The meaning is: We will abandon them in their torment just as they abandoned the deeds for the meeting of this Day. This is the view of Al-Hasan, Mujahid, As-Suddi, and the majority.
2. The Second Opinion: That the meaning of "We will forget them as they forgot" is that We will treat them with the treatment of one who forgets—leaving them in the Fire just as they acted by turning away from Our signs. In summary, Allah named the recompense for their forgetting as forgetting, just as in His saying: {And the recompense of a bad deed is its like} (Ash-Shura: 40). The meaning of this forgetting is that He will not answer their supplication nor have mercy on them.

Then Allah, the Exalted, clarified that all these severe consequences were only because they used to reject Our signs. This verse is subtle and wonderful. This is because Allah described them as being disbelievers, then explained their state: first, they took their religion as amusement; second, as play; third, the worldly life deluded them. The consequence of these states and stages was that they rejected the signs of Allah. This indicates that the love of the world is the origin of every affliction, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The love of the world is the head of every sin." The love of the world can lead to disbelief and misguidance.

{And We have certainly brought them a Book which We detailed with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.} (Al-A'raf: 52)