The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 109
CH. 2 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِايْتِنَا أُولَيكَ will E أصْحَبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَلِدُونَ PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH 40. But "they who disbelieve and treat Our Signs as lies, these shall be the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide. 46 R. 5. 41. O children of Ь Premember My favour which I يُبَنِي إِسْرَاءِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي !Israel أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ bestowed upon you, and fulfil بِعَهْدِكُمْ ۚ وَإِيَّايَ فَارُهَبُونِ your covenant with Me, I will fulfil My covenant with you, and Me alone should you fear. 47 a7:37. 2:48, 123; 5:21; 14:7. future or regret about the past would trouble them, as they would attain nearness to God and their hearts would be to them a paradise. 46. Important Words: (shall abide). For the meaning of see under 2:26. Commentary: Along with the glad tidings given in the preceding verse, a warning is issued in the present verse for such people as might reject God's guidance. They will fall into a fire and will never enjoy inner happiness and satisfaction of mind, however rich and wealthy they may happen to be. In the next world too, both those who follow the guidance and those who reject it will have the reward and retribution of their deeds. The last clause of the verse, viz. as i. e. therein they shall abide, does not mean that they will remain in Hell forever. Islam does believe in the eternity of Hell, but looks upon it as a sort of hospital not 109 where men will be sent for treatment and cure. The God of Islam is most merciful and not vindictive, and does not delight in inflicting punishment on His creatures. On the other hand, His punishment comes only when it becomes absolutely essential and even then, it is intended only for the reformation of His creatures. The punishment, whether of this world or of the next, is not based on the motive of revenge, but both here and hereafter, its underlying purpose is to inflict pain with the ultimate object of healing and curing, so that when this purpose has been fulfilled, it will become unnecessary and will be stopped. Accordingly, Islam teaches that there will come a time when the dwellers of Hell, after having been cured of their spiritual diseases, will leave it for Heaven (see under 11:108, 109). In contrast to this, the reward of Heaven is truly everlasting (11:109). 47. Important Words: Israel is another name of) اسرائیل