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alladhīna yuḥsharūna ʿalā wujūhihim ʾilā jahannama ʾulāʾika sharrun makānan wa-ʾaḍallu sabīlan
Those who will be mustered [fallen] on their faces toward hell, they are the worse situated and further astray from the [right] way.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Furqan - Verse 34
34. “Those who shall be mustered upon their faces unto Hell, they are in a worse place and as to path, most astray.”
The most misled person is the one who finds faults with prophets and makes difficulty for them. Therefore, in this noble verse, it is implied that after their finding faults, stubborn and biased foes had made inference that Muhammad and his followers, with this book and these programs, were the worst people of Allah (we seek Allah's protection!). Since saying this matter was not consistent with the eloquent and decorous words of the Qur’an, Allah answers this without mentioning the matter.
It says:
Yes, the result of men’s programs and deeds will be shown in the Hereafter; when some persons are as tall as cedar and their faces shine like moon. They go toward the Paradise with long steps and fast. On the contrary, there are persons who are lying on the ground and angels of punishment are dragging them to the Hell. This different destiny shows who had been misled and evil and who had been guided and happy! Moreover, commentators are of different opinions about the purpose of the Qur’anic phrase which says:
Some commentators have rendered as the verse means literally. They have said that the angels of punishment drag them to the Hell while their faces will be on the ground. On one hand, it shows how abject and wretched they are, for in the world they were very self-conceited and proud and they considered themselves better than other people. On the other hand, it is an embodiment of their aberration in this world, for such a person that is dragged in this way can never see ahead and is unaware of what is happing around him.
But some other commentators have taken it with its ironical meaning; sometimes they say that this sentence ironically implies their inner longing for this world, that is, for the sake that their heart still longs for this world, they are dragged toward Hell.
1. The Prophet (S) in a tradition said:
“On the day of Resurrection, Fire speaks with three persons: ruler, singer, and the rich. It says to the ruler that Allah had bestowed you palace and sovereignty and you did not judge rightly and then the Fire swallows him as a bird swallows the sesame.
It says to the singer that you adorned yourself for people and struggled against Allah by committing sin and disobeying Him, and then it swallows him. It says to the rich that Allah had bestowed you a lot of blessings and wealth, and you did not lend poor and needy people who wanted a little money and then it swallows him, too.” 44
2. Imam Sadiq (as) has narrated from his ancestors that Imam Ali (as) said:
“In the Hell there is a mill that crushes five things into flour. Do not you ask what is its flour?”
Then he was asked what its flour was. He said:
“It is the corrupted and evil scientists, evil and vice singers, tyrannical rulers, treacherous ministers, and lying Gnostics. Verily in the Hell there is a city that is called ‘Hasinah’. Do not you ask me what is in that city?”
Someone asked:
“What is there in it O’ Amir-al-Mu’minin?”
He said:
“There are hands of those who broke an oath of allegiance.” 45
3. Imam Ali (as) said:
“Fear the Fire whose heat is severe and it is very deep. Its adornment is iron and its beverage is pus.” 46
Footnotes