Al-Qur'an Surah Az-Zumar Verse 16

Mufti Taqi Usmani

For them there are canopies of fire on top of them and canopies (of fire) underneath them. That is the thing against which Allah warns His servants. “So, O servants of Mine, fear Me.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They will have layers of fire above and below them. That is what Allah warns His servants with. So fear Me, O  My servants!

Ruwwad Translation Center

They will have layers of fire above them and below them. That is how Allah warns His slaves. Then fear Me, O My slaves!

A. J. Arberry

Above them they shall have overshadowings. of the Fire, and underneath them overshadowings; that it is wherewith God frightens His servants: "O My servants, so fear you Me!"'

Abdul Haleem

They will have layers of Fire above them and below.’ This is how God puts fear into His servants: My servants, beware of Me.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

For them! above them shall be coverings of Fire and beneath them coverings. Therewith Allah affrighteth His bondmen. O My bondmen! wherefore fear Me.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They shall have Layers of Fire above them, and Layers (of Fire) below them; with this doth Allah warn off his servants; "O My Servants! then fear ye Me!"

Abul Ala Maududi

There shall be sheets of fire above them and beneath them. This is the end against which Allah warns His servants. So dread My wrath, O you servants of Mine!”

Ahmed Ali

Above them will be a covering of fire, below them a cloud (of flames). With this does God warn His creatures: "O My creatures, fear Me."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Above them are mountains of fire and beneath them are mountains of fire; Allah scares His bondmen with this; “O My bondmen! Fear Me!”

Ali Quli Qarai

There will be canopies of fire above them, and [similar] canopies beneath them. With that Allah deters His servants. So, My servants, be wary of Me!

Ali Ünal

For them will be dark layers of the Fire above them, and dark layers below them. With this does God warn off His servants. O My servants, keep from disobedience to Me in reverence for Me and piety and so deserve My protection.

Amatul Rahman Omar

They shall have coverings of the fire over them and (sheets of similar) coverings below them (allowing them no escape). That is (the sort of punishment) against which Allâh warns His servants, `My servants! (do not invite My punishment, rather) take Me as (your) shield.´

English Literal

For them from above them shades from the fire , and from below/beneath them shades, that God He frightens with it His worshippers/slaves , you My worshipper/slaves , so fear and obey Me.

Faridul Haque

Above them are mountains of fire and beneath them are mountains of fire; Allah scares His bondmen with this; “O My bondmen! Fear Me!”

Hamid S. Aziz

They shall have coverings (layers) of fire above them and coverings (layers) beneath them; with this, Allah appals His servants, so be careful of (your duty to) Me, O My servants!

Hilali & Khan

They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and covering (of Fire) beneath them; with this Allah does frighten His slaves: "O My slaves, therefore fear Me!"

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Serve then what you will beside Him. Say: The losers surely are those who lose themselves and their people on the day of Resurrection. Now surely that is the manifest loss!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

They shall have coverings of fire above them and coverings beneath them; with that Allah makes His servants to fear, so be careful of (your duty to) Me, O My servants!

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They have an awning of fire above them and beneath them a dais (of fire). With this doth Allah appal His bondmen. O My bondmen, therefor fear Me!

Muhammad Sarwar

Above and below them their will be shadows of fire. This is how God frightens His servants. My servants have fear of Me.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Above them they shall have layers of fire and beneath them layers. By this Allah puts fear into His worshipers' 'O My worshipers, fear Me'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and covering (of Fire) beneath them. With this Allah frightens His servants: "O My servants, therefore have Taqwa of Me!"

Wahiduddin Khan

They will have sheets of fire above them and sheets of fire beneath them." That is how God puts fear into the hearts of His servants. Fear me, then, My servants.

Talal Itani

They will have layers of Fire above them, and layers beneath them. That is how God strikes fear into His servants—“O My servants! Beware of Me!”

Tafsir jalalayn

Above them they will have canopies, layers, of fire, and beneath them [they will have [similar] canopies, of fire. That is what God frightens His servants with, that is, the believing ones, that they may have fear of Him -- this [sense of the verse] is suggested by [what follows]), "So, O servants of Mine, fear Me!"'

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِّنَ النَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ

They shall have coverings of Fire, above them and covering (of Fire) beneath them.

This is like the Ayat;

لَهُم مِّن جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ وَمِن فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍ وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الظَّـلِمِينَ

Theirs will be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings (of Hell-fire). Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers! (7;41)

يَوْمَ يَغْشَـهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ وَيِقُولُ ذُوقُواْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

On the Day when the torment (Hell-fire) shall cover them from above them and from underneath their feet, and it will be said;"Taste what you used to do." (29;55)

ذَلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عِبَادَهُ

With this Allah frightens His servants;

means, Allah tells us about this, which will undoubtedly come to pass, to frighten His servants, so that they will keep away from unlawful things and from sin.

يَا عِبَادِ فَاتَّقُونِ



O My servants, therefore have Taqwa of Me!

means, `fear My wrath, My anger, My punishment and My vengeance.