Tafsir of Al-Hajj 22:19

The Adversary (al-khaṣm): An attribute used to describe a group or party. It is as if it were said: "These are two groups or two parties disputing."

The use of the dual form hādhān (these two) follows the literal wording, while ikhtaṣamū (they disputed—plural) follows the meaning, similar to the verse: "And among them are those who listen to you, until when they depart..." (Muhammad: 16). If one were to say hā’ulā’i khaṣmān (these are two adversaries) or ikhtaṣamā (they two disputed), it would be permissible.

It refers to the believers and the disbelievers. Ibn Abbas said it refers to the followers of the six religions.

"Concerning their Lord": That is, concerning His religion and His attributes. It is narrated that the People of the Scripture said to the believers: "We are more entitled to God, our scripture is older than yours, and our prophet came before your prophet." The believers replied: "We are more entitled to God; we have believed in Muhammad, and we have believed in your prophet and in the scripture God revealed, whereas you recognize our scripture and our prophet, yet you abandoned them and disbelieved out of envy." This is their dispute concerning their Lord.

"But those who disbelieved": This is the resolution of the dispute, as meant by the Almighty’s saying: "Indeed, God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection" (Al-Hajj: 17).

In a narration from al-Kisa’i, it is read as khaṣimān (with a kasra). It is also read as quṭṭiʿat (cut out—lightened form), as if God Almighty measures out fires for them according to the size of their bodies, enveloping them just as garments are cut to fit the wearer. It is also possible that these fires are layered upon each of them like garments layered one over another upon the wearer. Similar to this is: "Their garments of pitch" (Ibrahim: 50).

"Al-Ḥamīm": Boiling water. Ibn Abbas (may God be pleased with him) said: "If a single drop of it were to fall upon the mountains of the world, it would melt them."

"Yuṣharu": It melts [them]. Al-Hasan read it with a shadda on the ha for emphasis, meaning: when the boiling water is poured over their heads, its effect on the interior is like its effect on the exterior; it melts their innards and intestines just as it melts their skins. This is more expressive than the verse: "And they are given boiling water to drink that cuts their intestines" (Muhammad: 15).

"Al-Maqāmiʿ": The whips. In the Hadith: "If a maqmaʿa (mace/whip) from it were placed on the earth, and the two heavy ones [jinn and mankind] gathered upon it, they would not be able to lift it."

Al-Aʿmash read: "Ruddū fīhā" (They are returned into it). Returning and sending back only occurs after an exit. The meaning is: whenever they desire to exit it due to their anguish and manage to emerge, they are returned into it. The meaning of "exit" is what is narrated from al-Hasan: that the Fire strikes them with its flames and lifts them up, until when they are at its peak, they are struck with the maces and fall back down for seventy autumns, and it is said to them: "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire."

"Al-Ḥarīq": The intense, spreading, and massively destructive fire.

"Indeed, God will admit those who have believed and done righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be silk. And they had been guided to good speech, and they had been guided to the path of the Praiseworthy. Indeed, those who have disbelieved and avert [people] from the way of God and [from] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, which We made for the people - equal are the resident therein and one from the desert; and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [or] wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment."