Al-Qur'an Surah Maryam Verse 86

And We shall drive the Mujrimun (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, etc.) to Hell, in a thirsty state (like a thirsty herd driven down to water),

Maulana Mohammad Ali

The day when We gather the dutiful to the Beneficent to receive honours,

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We will drive the guilty to hell thirsty

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And drive the guilty unto hell, a weary herd,

Muhammad Sarwar

and the criminals will be driven and thrown into hell,

Qaribullah & Darwish

and drive the evildoers as herds, into Gehenna

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We shall drive the criminals to Hell, in a thirsty state.

Wahiduddin Khan

and We shall drive the sinful like a thirsty herd into Hell.

Talal Itani

And herd the sinners into hell, like animals to water.

Tafsir jalalayn

and drive the guilty, [guilty] on account of their disbelief, into Hell, a thirsty herd (wirdan, the [accusative] plural of wrid, meaning `one who is thirsty and on foot).

The Day We shall gather those with Taqwa unto the Most Gracious (Allah), like a delegation. And We shall drive the criminals to Hell, in a thirsty state.

Allah, the Exalted, informs about His righteous friends, who feared Him in the life of this world. They followed His Messengers and believed in what the Messengers told them. They obeyed them in what they commanded them and abstained from that which they prohibited.

Allah explains that He will gather these people on the Day of Resurrection like a delegation that has come to Him.

A Wafd (delegation) is a group that arrives while riding and from it comes the word Wufud (arriving).

They will come riding upon noble steeds of light from the riding animals of the Hereafter. They will arrive before the Best Receiver of delegations at the abode of His honor and pleasure.

In reference to the criminals, who denied the Messengers and opposed them, they will be driven violently to the Hellfire.

Allah says,
وِرْدًا
(In a thirsty state),

This means parched and thirsting for drink.

This was stated by `Ata', Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and many others.

Here it will be said,

أَىُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَّقَاماً وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيّاً

Which of the two groups is best in Maqam (position) and the finest Nadiyyan (meeting place). (19;73)

Ibn Abi Hatim reported from Amr bin Qays Al-Mula'i, who reported from Ibn Marzuq that he said,
يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ وَفْدًا
(The Day We shall gather those with Taqwa unto the Most Gracious, like a delegation),

"When the believer comes forth from his grave, he will meet the most handsome form he has ever seen and it will have the nicest fragrance. He will say, `Who are you?'

The being will reply, `You do not know me!'

The believer will say, `No, but Allah has made you sweet smelling with a handsome face.'

The being will say, `I am your righteous deeds. This is how you use to beautify and apply fragrance to your deeds in the worldly life. I was riding upon you in the entire length of your worldly life, so will you not ride upon me now!'

So the believer will therefore mount the creature.

This is the meaning of Allah's statement,

يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ وَفْدًا

The Day We shall gather those with Taqwa unto the Most Gracious, like a delegation."

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said,
يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ وَفْدًا
(The Day We shall gather those with Taqwa unto the Most Gracious, like a delegation).

"Riding."

His saying,

وَنَسُوقُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وِرْدًا

And We shall drive the criminals to Hell, in a thirsty state.

This means parched and thirsty