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سورة البقرة (Surah Al-Baqarah)

آية 24

القرآن: فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ
Translation: But if you do not – and you never will – then guard yourselves against the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, which awaits all who deny the truth.

Explanation (Tafheemul Quran):

Maududi explains that this verse serves as the powerful and definitive conclusion to the challenge issued in the previous verse (2:23). He breaks down its meaning into several key points:

1. The Certainty of Failure: The phrase “وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا” (and you never will) is a bold, prophetic declaration. It is not merely a prediction but a statement of fact that underscores the Quran’s status as a miraculous and inimitable revelation. Maududi emphasizes that this challenge—to produce a single chapter like the Quran—is eternal and impossible to meet. The disbelievers’ inability to do so is proof positive that the Quran is from God.
2. From Proof to Accountability: Since they cannot meet the challenge, their refusal to believe is exposed as obstinacy, not intellectual doubt. Therefore, the argument shifts from providing proof to announcing the consequence. The verse tells them: Now that the truth has been established beyond doubt, you must fear the outcome of rejecting it.
3. The Nature of the Warning – “The Fire”: The “Fire” refers to Hell (Jahannam). The warning to “guard yourselves against it” (فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ) is a call to develop Taqwa (God-consciousness) by abandoning disbelief and accepting the truth.
4. Vivid Imagery of Punishment: The description “whose fuel is men and stones” is meant to convey the Fire’s unparalleled intensity.
   · “Men” as fuel signifies that the disbelievers themselves will become the material of their own punishment.
   · “Stones” refers to the idols they worshipped (like the stone deities of the polytheists) or sulfurous stones that burn intensely. Maududi notes this is a severe indictment of their polytheism (Shirk); the very objects they associated with God will fuel the Fire of their punishment.
5. The Final, Solemn Declaration: The verse ends with “أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ” (which awaits all who deny the truth). Maududi stresses that Hell is not an arbitrary or incidental place. It is a prepared destination—specifically readied and destined for those who, after clear evidence, consciously and persistently choose to deny the truth (Kufr).

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Core Summary from Maududi’s Tafheem:

In essence, this single verse encapsulates a complete argument:

· Logical Conclusion: You cannot meet the challenge (proof of divine origin).
· Moral Imperative: Therefore, you must fear the consequence of denial.
· Graphic Warning: The consequence is a horrific Fire, stoked by your own falsehoods.
· Ultimate Justice: This Fire is the pre-ordained end for those who choose disbelief over truth after the proof has been manifestly established by God Himself.