Transliteration:( Fail lam taf'aloo wa lan taf'aloo fattaqun Naaral latee waqooduhan naasu walhijaaratu u'iddat lilkaafireen )
"But if you fail to do so—and surely you are bound to fail [45]—then guard yourselves against the Fire whose fuel are men and stones [46], which has been prepared for the infidels."
The “stones” mentioned here refer to idols that were worshipped by disbelievers—including statues, the sun, moon, stars, trees, and other natural objects they deified.
These items will be cast into Hell, not to be punished, but to serve as fuel for punishment—a form of humiliation for their worshippers.
However, not all stones are included in this condemnation. Sacred objects like the Black Stone (Hajr-e-Aswad) and Maqaam-e-Ibrahim at the Ka’bah, despite sometimes being revered excessively, are heavenly stones and not idols.
Similarly, Prophet Isa (Jesus) and Uzayr (Ezra), although wrongly worshipped by some, are innocent of shirk and are among the righteous who will enter Paradise.
The word “Al-Hijaarah” uses “Al” as a general article, not to specify any sacred item or person.
Two important theological points are evident:
The verse uses the past tense—“prepared”—proving that Hell has already been created. It is not a future concept but a present reality.
Believers, though they may enter Hell for purification, will not remain there permanently.
In contrast, disbelievers will never be removed from Hell—it is eternal punishment for them.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 24 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 23 which provides the complete commentary from verse 23 through 24.
(2:24) But if you fail to do this – and you will most certainly fail – then have fear of the Fire whose fuel is men and stones[25] and which has been prepared for those who deny the Truth.
25. This suggests, in a subtle manner, that in the Next Life not only will the unbelievers become the fuel of hell-fire, but that the same fate will befall the idol-stones they worshipped and before which they had prostrated themselves. They will then know, for sure, how far their idols had any share in godhead.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics