Tafsir of Al-Teen 95:5

Surah At-Tin (The Fig): Verse 5

{Then We return him to the lowest of the low.}

There are two interpretations regarding this phrase:

The First View:

• Ibn Abbas said it refers to the most wretched age (old age/senility). This is similar to His saying: “then returned to the most wretched of age.”
• Ibn Qutaybah stated that al-sāfilūn (the lowest ones) refers to the weak, the infirm, and those who have no means or ability. The root means to descend; thus, sāfil (singular) and sāfilūn (plural), just as ʿālin (high) and ʿālūn (high ones).
• The meaning intended is that in old age, a person becomes senile, their hearing, sight, and intellect weaken, their resourcefulness diminishes, and they become incapable of performing righteous deeds, thus reaching the lowest state.
• Al-Farra' noted that asfala sāfil (lowest of the low, singular) would have been grammatically correct because the word al-insān (man) is singular. He cites the parallel: "This is the best standing person" (singular), not "the best standing people" (plural).
• However, sāfilīn (plural) is used here because al-insān (man) is understood in a collective sense (representing humanity). This is like the verse: “And those who brought the truth and believed in it—those are the righteous.” (where ulā'ika is plural). Similarly, “And indeed, when We let man taste mercy from Us, he rejoices therein; but if evil befalls him...” (where insān is singular but the context implies a general human experience).

The Second View:

• This view is mentioned by Mujahid and Al-Hasan: “Then We return him to the Fire.”
• Ali (peace be upon him) said that the gates of Hell are situated one below the other, and the lowest one is filled first. Therefore, asfala sāfilīn means returning him to the lowest part of Hellfire.
• Under this interpretation, the meaning is: “Then We return him to the lowest of the low, [which is] the Fire.”

{Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds, for them is a reward uninterrupted.}