Surah Naba Ayat 23 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 23
In which they will remain for ages [unending].
They will dwell therein for ages.
therein they shall abide for ages,
They will abide therein for ages,
They will abide therein for ages.
Lingering therein for epochs.
to stay in for a long, long time,
اس میں وه مدتوں تک پڑے رہیں گے
Quran 78 Verse 23 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Naba ayat 23, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(78:23) therein they shall abide for ages,[15]
15. The word ahqab as used in the original means successive periods of long time appearing continuously one after the other. From this word some people have tried to argue that there will be eternity in the life of Paradise but no eternity in the life of Hell. For however long these ages may be, they will not be endless but will come to an end at some time. But this argument is wrong for two reasons. First, that lexically, the word haqab (sing. of ahqab) itself contains the meaning that one haqab should be closely followed by another haqab; therefore, ahqab will necessarily be used only for such periods of time as continue to appear successively one after the other and there should be no period which is not followed by another period. Second, that as a rule it is wrong to put a meaning on a verse of the Quran pertaining to a particular theme which clashes with other statements of the Quran pertaining to the same theme. At 34 places in the Quran the word khulud (eternity) has been used concerning the dwellers of Hell. At three places not only the word khulud has been used but the word abadan (for ever and ever) also has been added to it; and at one place it has been clearly stated: They will wish to get out of Hell but shall not be able to come out of it and theirs shall be an everlasting torment. (Surah Al-Maidah, Ayat 37). At another place it has been said: Therein they shall abide forever, as long as the earth and the heavens shall last, unless your Lord ordains otherwise. And the same thing has been said about the dwellers of Paradise too: They shall dwell in Paradise forever, as long as the earth and the heavens shall last, unless your Lord wills something else. (Surah Houd, Ayat 107-108). After these explanations, how can one argue, on the basis of the word ahqab, that the stay of the rebels of God in Hell will not be eternal, but it will come to an end at some stage in time?
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Naba verse 22 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Naba ayat 17 which provides the complete commentary from verse 17 through 30.
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