At-Tahrim (The Prohibition)

6. O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed guarding angels, stern and severe, who disobey not from executing the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.

Following the censures and warnings to some of the Noble Prophet’s (S) wives reflected in the preceding Verses, the blessed Verse in question proceeds to address all the believers enjoining them to strive toward fostering and educating their families saying:

“O you who believe! Preserve yourselves against the Fire whose fuel is mankind and stones.”

Such preservation connotes refraining from committing sins and resistance against concupiscent desires. Preservation of one’s family indicates fostering and educating them, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, preparing a pure family environment.

Such plan is supposed to begin from making preparations for marriage and be pursued upon the birth of the first child. Such plan is to be acted upon through all the stages by precise and accurate planning. In other words, giving what is due to one’s wife and children is not restricted to providing them with accommodation and sustenance, but helping them with gaining spiritual growth through accurate education bears further significance.

It is worthy of note that the Arabic imperative form

qu (“preserve, keep”)

reflects that if you leave them on their own, they will proceed toward the Fire and it is incumbent upon you to preserve them from ending upon in Hell. The Arabic nominal form waqud denotes fuel or something flammable like firewood.

Thus, Hellfire is not like the fire in this world, since its flames rise up from the inward of human beings and stones. Some exegetes maintain that by stones, sulfuric stones are hereby intended, though the word hijara reflects a general denotation designating of all kinds of stone.

Today, we know that each piece of stone is comprised of billions of atoms and if the force preserved in them happen to be liberated, they make such huge fire that man will be surprised at it. some Qur’an exegetes maintain that the word “stones” herein connotes the stone idols worshipped by polytheists.

The blessed Verse proceeds to say that strict and severe angels are appointed to tend the Fire and they never disobey Allah’s Command but they act upon the Commands of God Almighty unquestioningly. There shall be no way out of the Fire nor shall crying and beseeching be of any effect.

It goes without saying that whoever is appointed to some task is required to possess the suitable qualifications. Thus, the angels appointed to inflicting torments are to be naturally severe and rough, since Hell is not a place where one may expect compassion. It is the crucible of Divine Wrath. Nonetheless, such angels shall never transgress the bounds of justice but they merely act upon Divine Command without making any alterations in it.

It is narrated in a tradition that upon the Revelation of the blessed Verse in question, a certain Companion of the Noble Prophet (S) inquired:

“How may I preserve my family from Hellfire?”

the Noble Prophet (S) replied:

“Through enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. If they acknowledge your suggestions and act accordingly, you will preserve them from Hellfire. However, if they fail to act likewise, you have acted upon your obligations.”1

According to another comprehensive and interesting tradition, the Noble Prophet (S) is reported as saying:

“Know that you are all guardians responsible for those whom you are appointed to guard. The leader of the Islamic community is the guardian of the people and is responsible for all of them. Men are the guardians of their families for whom they are responsible. Women are also the guardians of their husbands and children for whom they stand answerable. Know that you are all guardians responsible for all those under your guardianship.”2

It is also narrated from the Noble Prophet (S) as saying:

“Divine Mercy shall be upon those who enjoin their families to attend to the establishment of ritual prayers, fasting, paying the religious tax, and care for the poor, the orphans, and the neighbors, distancing from committing sins.”3

It is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an¹ that the Noble Prophet (S) enjoined his family to establish ritual prayers. According to a tradition, upon hearing the blessed Verse in question, a young man lost consciousness and passed away.

The Noble Prophet (S) promised him that he will be admitted to Paradise quoting the Qur’anic Verse² :

“And verily, We shall make you dwell in the land after him. This is for him who fears standing before Me [on the Day of Resurrection and fears My Chastisement] and also fears My Warning.”

He also recited another Qur’anic Verse³ :

“And enjoin your family to establish ritual prayers and be patient in offering them. We ask not of you a provision: We provide for you. And the good end is in store for the God fearing.”

The discussion may be crowned by quoting a tradition narrated from the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as), as per which:

“The blessed Verse [in question] is enjoining the believing to teach their families to do righteous good deeds.”7

It is worthy of note, however, that if someone committed a mistake, he may at any time torn to God Almighty in repentance and Divine Graciousness shall be bestowed upon him.

Turning to God Almighty in repentance is one of the quite significant principles of education in Islam. All sinners are enjoined to repent from their sins so that they may compensate for their wrong deeds and attain to spiritual growth.

In this vein, Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn in the supplications of the repentant says:

“My Lord! You have opened the door of forgiveness to your servants and called it repentance enjoining them to turn toward you in repentance sincerely rather than simply verbally. What is the pretext of those who neglect from entry following the opening of the door?”8

Numerous traditions have been narrated and many Qur’anic Verses have been revealed in this respect which are to be found in the Holy Qur’an and tradition sources.