Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 38

Mufti Taqi Usmani

He (Allah) will say, “Enter the Fire along with the peoples who passed before you from the Jinn and the human beings.” Whenever a group will enter it, they will curse their fellows, until when all of them will have joined each other in it, the latter ones will say about the former ones “Our Lord, they misguided us; so, give them a double punishment of the Fire.” He will say, “For each there is a double, but you do not know.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Allah will say, “Enter the Fire along with the ˹evil˺ groups of jinn and humans that preceded you.” Whenever a group enters Hell, it will curse the preceding one until they are all gathered inside, the followers will say about their leaders, “Our Lord! They have misled us, so multiply their torment in the Fire.” He will answer, “It has already been multiplied for all, but you do not know.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Allah will say, “Enter the Fire along with nations of jinn and humans who have passed on before you.” Every time a nation enters, it will curse the preceding one until they are all gathered inside, the followers will say about their leaders, “Our Lord, they have led us astray, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.” He will say, “Each will have a double punishment, but you do not know.”

A. J. Arberry

He will say, 'Enter among nations that passed away before you, jinn and mankind, into the Fire.' Whenever any nation enters, it curses its sister-nation; till, when they have all successively come there, the last of them shall say to the first of them, 'O our Lord, these led us astray; so give them a double chastisement of the Fire.' He will say, 'Unto each a double, but you know not.

Abdul Haleem

God will say, ‘Join the crowds of jinn and humans who have gone before you into the Fire.’ Every crowd curses its fellow crowd as it enters, then, when they are all gathered inside, the last of them will say of the first, ‘Our Lord, it was they who led us astray: give them double punishment in the Fire’- God says, ‘Every one of you will have double punishment, though you do not know it’-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Allah will say. enter the Fire among the communities who have passed away before you, of genii and mankind. So oft as a community will enter it, it shall curse its sister, until, when all shall have arrived one after anot her therein, the last of them shall say of the first of them: our Lord! these led us astray; so mete out unto them and double torment of the Fire, He will say: to each, double; but ye know not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He will say; "Enter ye in the company of the peoples who passed away before you - men and jinns, - into the Fire." Every time a new people enters, it curses its sister-people (that went before), until they follow each other, all into the Fire. Saith the last about the first; "Our Lord! it is these that misled us; so give them a double penalty in the Fire." He will say; "Doubled for all"; but this ye do not understand.

Abul Ala Maududi

Allah ivill say: 'Enter the fire of Hell and join the nations of jinn and men that have gone before You.' As a nation enters Hill, it will curse the one that went before it, and when all are gathered there, the last of them shall say of the first: 'Our Lord! These are the ones who led us astray. Let their torment be doubled in Hell-Fire.' He will answer: 'Each will have a doubled torment; although you do not know.'

Ahmed Ali

"Enter then the Fire," will God say, "with the past generations of jinns and men." On entering each batch will condemn the other; and when all of them shall have entered one after the other, the last to come will say of those who had come before them: "O our Lord, they are the ones who led us astray; so give them double chastisement in the Fire." He will answer: "For all it will be double; but this you do not know."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Allah says to them, “Join the groups of jinns and mankind who have entered hell before you”; when a group enters, it curses the other; until when they have all gone in, the latter groups will say regarding the former, “Our Lord! It is these who led us astray, so give them double the punishment of the fire”; He will say, “For each one is double – but you do not know.”

Ali Quli Qarai

He will say, ‘Enter the Fire, along with the nations of jinn and humans who passed before you!’ Every time that a nation enters [hell], it will curse its sister [nation]. When they all rejoin in it, the last of them will say about the first of them, ‘Our Lord, it was they who led us astray; so give them a double punishment of the Fire.’ He will say, ‘It is double for each [of you], but you do not know.’

Ali Ünal

He (God) says: "Enter in company with the communities of jinn and humankind that went before you into the Fire!" Every time a community enters the Fire, it curses its fellow-community (that went before it) – so much so that, when they all have gathered there one after another, those who came later say of those who came earlier: "Our Lord! Those are the ones who led us astray: give them, therefore, double suffering through fire!" He (God) says: "For each is double (since those who went earlier both strayed themselves and led others astray, and those who came later both strayed themselves and imitated the others blindly), but you do not know."

Amatul Rahman Omar

He (- God) will say, `Enter into the Fire along with the communities that have passed away before you, from among the jinns and ordinary people.´ Every time a (new) community enters it, it curses its sister (evil-doing community), until when they have all followed one another into it, the last of them will say with regard to the first of them (-the leaders), `Our Lord! these led us astray so give them punishment of the Fire over and over again.´ He will say, `Everyone is having (his punishment) over and over again, but you do not know (about one another).´

English Literal

He said: "Enter in (with) nations (that) have past/expired from before you from the Jinns and the human/mankind in the fire, whenever a nation is entered, it cursed its sister until they caught up (to)/overtook/reached each other in it all together, their last said to their first : "Our Lord those (are who) misguided us, so give/bring them a double torture from the fire." He said: "For every/each/all (is) double, and but you do not know."

Faridul Haque

Allah says to them, "Join the groups of jinns and mankind who have entered hell before you"; when a group enters, it curses the other; until when they have all gone in, the latter groups will say regarding the former, "Our Lord! It is these who led us astray, so give them double the punishment of the fire"; He will say, "For each one is double - but you do not know."

Hamid S. Aziz

He will say, "Enter you the Fire amongst the nations (communities) who have passed away before you - both of jinn and men." Whenever a nation (community) enters therein, it curses its sister (nation, community); until, when they have followed each other into the Fire, the last of them will say about the first, "O our Lord! These it was who led us astray, give them a double penalty of the Fire!" He will say, "Double for each of you!" But this you do not understand.

Hilali & Khan

(Allah) will say: "Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and jinns, into the Fire." Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before), until they will be gathered all together in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them: "Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire." He will say: "For each one there is double (torment), but you know not."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His messages? These -- their portion of the Book shall reach them; until when Our messengers come to them causing them to die, they say: Where is that which you used to call upon besides Allah? They would say: They are gone away from us. And they shall bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

He will say: Enter into fire among the nations that have passed away before you from among jinn and men; whenever a nation shall enter, it shall curse its sister, until when they have all come up with one another into it; the last of them shall say with regard to the foremost of them: Our Lord! these led us astray therefore give them a double chastisement of the fire. He will say: Every one shall have double but you do not know.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

He saith: Enter into the Fire among nations of the jinn and humankind who passed away before you. Every time a nation entereth, it curseth its sister (nation) till, when they have all been made to follow one another thither, the last of them saith unto the first of them: Our Lord! These led us astray, so give them double torment of the Fire. He saith: For each one there is double (torment), but ye know not.

Muhammad Sarwar

(On the Day of Judgment) the Lord will say to them, "Join the group of jinn and people who lived before you, in hell." Each group, on entering hell, will curse the other dwellers, until all of them are brought together therein. The last group will accuse the first saying, "Lord, they made us go astray. Therefore, double their torment in the Fire." The Lord will reply, "For everyone of you there is a double torment, but you do not know it".

Qaribullah & Darwish

He will say: 'Enter the Fire and join the nations of jinn and humans that have gone before you' As they enter, every nation will curse its sisternation, and when all are gathered in the pit, the last of them will say of the first: 'These, Lord, are those who led us astray. Give them a double punishment of the Fire. He will answer: 'For each double, although you do not know it'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

(Allah) will say: "Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire." Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before) until they are all together in the Fire. The last of them will say to the first of them: "Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire." He will say: "For each one there is double (torment), but you know not."

Wahiduddin Khan

God will say, "Enter the Fire and join the bands of jinn and men that have gone before you." Every time a host enters [the fire], it will curse its fellow-host, then, when they are all gathered there, the last of them will say of the first, "Our Lord, it was they who led us astray: give them double punishment in the Fire," -- God will say, "Every one of you will have double punishment, though you do not know it" --

Talal Itani

He will say, “Join the crowds of jinn and humans who have gone into the Fire before you.” Every time a crowd enters, it will curse its sister-crowd. Until, when they are all in it, the last of them will say to the first of them, “Our Lord, these are the ones who misled us, so inflict on them a double punishment in the Fire.” He will say, “Each will have a double, but you do not know.”

Tafsir jalalayn

He, exalted be He, will say, to them, on the Day of Resurrection; `Enter into the Fire among, the number of, communities of jinn and mankind who passed away before you' (f'l-nr, `into the Fire', is semantically connected to udkhul, `enter'). Every time a community enters, the Fire, it curses its sister-community, [the one] that came before it, because of its having gone astray on account of it, until, when they have all followed, caught up with, one another there, the last of them, those who were the followers, shall say to the first of them, those whom they revered and followed; `Our Lord, these led us astray; so give them a double chastisement of the Fire.' He, exalted be He, will say, `For each, of you and them, will be a double, chastisement, but you do not know' (read ta`lamn, or ya`lamn, `they [do not] know'), what will be for each party.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

People of the Fire will dispute and curse Each Other

Allah mentioned what He will say to those who associate others with Him, invent lies about Him, and reject His Ayat,

قَالَ ادْخُلُواْ فِي أُمَمٍ

(Allah) will say;Enter you in the company of nations,

who are your likes and similar to you in conduct,

قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِكُم

Who passed away before you,

from the earlier disbelieving nations,

مِّن الْجِنِّ وَالاِنسِ فِي النَّارِ

Of men and Jinn, into the Fire.

Allah said next,

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَّعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا

Every time a new nation enters, it curses its sister nation (that went before),
Al-Khalil (Prophet Ibrahim), peace be upon him, said,

ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ

"But on the Day of Resurrection, you shall deny each other. (29;25)

Also, Allah said,

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُواْ مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُواْ وَرَأَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الاٌّسْبَابُ

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُواْ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُواْ مِنَّا كَذَلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ حَسَرَتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَا هُم بِخَـرِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

When those who were followed declare themselves innocent of those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them. And those who followed will say;"If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would declare ourselves as innocent from them as they have declared themselves as innocent from us."

Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire. (2;166-167)

Allah's statement,

حَتَّى إِذَا ادَّارَكُواْ فِيهَا جَمِيعًا

until they are all together in the Fire,

means, they are all gathered in the Fire,

قَالَتْ أُخْرَاهُمْ لاُولَاهُمْ

The last of them will say to the first of them,

that is, the nation of followers that enter last will say this to the first nations to enter.

This is because the earlier nations were worse criminals than those who followed them, and this is why they entered the Fire first. For this reason, their followers will complain against them to Allah, because they were the ones who misguided them from the correct path, saying,

رَبَّنَا هَـوُلاء أَضَلُّونَا فَأتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِّنَ النَّارِ

"Our Lord! These misled us, so give them a double torment of the Fire."

multiply their share of the torment.

Allah said in another instance,

يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِى النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يلَيْتَنَأ أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا

وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَأ إِنَّأ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلْ

رَبَّنَأ ءَاتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ

On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say;"Oh! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger." And they will say;"Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) way. Our Lord! Give them a double torment." (33;66-68)

Allah said in reply,

قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تَعْلَمُونَ



He will say;"For each one there is double (torment) but you know not."

We did what you asked, and recompensed each according to their deeds.'

Allah said in another Ayah,

الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ زِدْنَـهُمْ عَذَابًا

Those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of Allah, for them We will add torment. (16;88)

Furthermore, Allah said,

وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالاً مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ

And verily, they shall bear their own loads, and other loads besides their own. (29;13)

and,

وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ

And also (some thing) of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. (16;25)