Al-Kahf (The Cave)

52. “And (remember) the Day (of Judgment) when He will say (to the polytheists): ‘Call on those whom you considered to be My partners.’ So they shall call on them, but they will not answer them, and We will cause between them a valley of perdition.”

53. “And the evildoers will see the Fire, then apprehend that they are falling into it, and will find no escape from it.”

Those who separate from Allah will wander and resort to everything. They appeal to men down to matters and animals, from sun and moon in the sky down to cow and calf on the earth, from immaculate angles down to the evil Satans. But whatever the more they call, the less they hear an answer, while if they call Allah (s.w.t.) they will surely be answered.

Therefore, this verse warns them again, saying:

“And (remember) the Day (of Judgment) when He will say (to the polytheists): ‘Call on those whom you considered to be My partners.’…”

You were boasting of them for a lifetime. You used to prostrate before them. Now that the waves of punishment and retribution have surrounded you from every side, you may call on them to help you at least for an hour.

It seems that they have still the kind of thoughts of this world in mind, so they call on them, but these imaginary deities do not even respond to their call, much less they haste to help them. Therefore, Allah makes a place of perdition between these two groups.

The verse says:

“…So they shall call on them, but they will not answer them, and We will cause between them a valley of perdition.”

The end of the followers of Satan and polytheists is stated in the verse, as follows:

“And the evildoers will see the Fire…”

The Fire, which they had never believed, will appear before their eyes. It is in this condition that they comprehend their mistake in the past.

So the verse says:

“…then apprehend that they are falling into it…”

And they shall also apprehend in certainty that they will find no way of escape from that blazing Fire.

The holy verse continues saying:

“…and will find no escape from it.”

Neither do their simulated deities come to help them, nor are the intercession of the intercessors useful for them, nor can they relieve from the grasp of the Fire of Hell, the blazing Fire which their own deeds have lighted by means of telling lies and falsehood, and by having recourse to wealth and force in this world.

Then, at the end of the verse, the holy Qur’an implies that the sinners will not have any chance of escape from the punishment in Hereafter, because deliverance is either under the shade of correct belief, or because of the Divine forgiveness based upon repentance and righteous deeds, which are not available for them; or because of intercession which their idols are not able to obtain. Thus, Hell is certain for them.