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Angels of Hell

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Angels of Hell

زبانية

In Islamic tradition, the angels appointed over Hell, often referred to as 'Zabaniyah' (زبانية) or 'keepers' (خزنتها), play a significant role in upholding divine justice. These are not figures of malice, but rather dedicated enforcers of Allah’s decree, tasked with the solemn duty of overseeing the consequences for those who denied truth and guidance during their earthly lives. Upon arrival at the gates of Hell, these guardians will confront its inhabitants, asking them directly, [“Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?”] This questioning highlights the emphasis on free will and the ample warnings provided to humanity. They are described as stern and uncompromising, serving as witnesses to divine truth. The Quran also recounts how those in the Fire will plead with these keepers, [“Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.”] This illustrates their authority and the finality of their role. While the specific number [nineteen angels] is mentioned as being over Hell, their collective function is to ensure that every soul receives the just recompense for their actions, reminding all of the profound accountability inherent in Islamic belief and the ultimate sovereignty of Allah.

Quran 7 verses

وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَٰتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Wa seeqal lazeena kafaroon ilaa jahannama zumaran battaaa izaa jaaa'oohaa futihat abwaabuhaa wa qaala lahum khazanatuhaaa alam yaatikum Rusulum minkum yatloona 'alaikum Aayaati Rabbikum wa yunziroonakum liqaaa'a Yawmikum haazaa; qaaloo balaa wa laakin haqqat kalimatul 'azaabi 'alal kaafireen

And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.

اور کافروں کو گروہ گروہ بنا کر جہنم کی طرف لے جائیں گے۔ یہاں تک کہ جب وہ اس کے پاس پہنچ جائیں گے تو اس کے دروازے کھول دیئے جائیں گے تو اس کے داروغہ ان سے کہیں گے کہ کیا تمہارے پاس تم ہی میں سے پیغمبر نہیں آئے تھے جو تم کو تمہارے پروردگار کی آیتیں پڑھ پڑھ کر سناتے اور اس دن کے پیش آنے سے ڈراتے تھے کہیں گے کیوں نہیں لیکن کافروں کے حق میں عذاب کا حکم متحقق ہوچکا تھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 69, it was said: وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ (and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought,) It means that, at the time of reckoning on the plains of Resurrection, present there will be all prophets as well as all other witnesses. The prophets themselves will also be among ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And those who disbelieve will be driven violently to Hell in troops in separate groups until when they reach it its gates are opened futihat abwābuhā is the response to idhā ‘when’ and its keepers will say to them ‘Did there not come to you any messengers from among yourselves reciting to you the si...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): How the Disbelievers will be driven to Hell Allah tells us how the doomed disbeliever will be driven to Hell by force, with threats and warnings. This is like the Ayah: يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا (The Day when they will be pushed down by force to the fire of Hell, with a horrible...

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ يُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا يَوْمًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ

Wa qaalal lazena fin Naari likhazanati Jahannamad-'oo Rabbakum yukhaffif 'annaa yawmam minal 'azaab

And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, "Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment."

اور جو لوگ آگ میں (جل رہے) ہوں گے وہ دوزخ کے داروغوں سے کہیں گے کہ اپنے پروردگار سے دعا کرو کہ ایک روز تو ہم سے عذاب ہلکا کردے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the last verse cited here, it was said: النَّارُ‌ يُعْرَ‌ضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْ‌عَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ. (It is the Fire before which they are presented morning and evening. And on the day when the Hour (of final judgment) will take...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And those who are in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell ‘Call on your Lord that He relieve us of at least a day in other words the equivalent of one day of the chastisement!’
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Dispute of the People of Hell Allah tells us how the people of Hell will dispute and argue with one another, and Fir`awn and his people will be among them. The weak, who were the followers, will say to those who were arrogant, who were the leaders and masters: إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا (Veril...

يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَىٰ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا

Yawma yuda'-'oona ilaa naari jahannama da'-'aa

The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a [violent] thrust, [its angels will say],

جس دن ان کو آتش جہنم کی طرف دھکیل دھکیل کر لے جائیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: يَوْمَ تَمُورُ‌ السَّمَاءُ مَوْرً‌ا (...the Day when the sky will tremble, a horrible trembling, ...52:9) The lexicographical denotation of the word mawr is violent shaking, or movement caused by unrest. This verse describes the violent movement of the heavens on the Day of Resurrection.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: the day when they will be thrust with a violent thrust into Hell when they will be pushed violently this last clause yawma yuda‘‘ūna ilā nāri jahannama da‘‘an is a substitution for yawma tamūru ‘the day when the heaven will heave’ and it will be said to them in reproach
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah The Virtues of Surat At-Tur Malik narrated that Jubayr bin Mut`im said, "I heard the Prophet reciting Surat At-Tur while praying Maghrib. Surely, I have never heard a more beautiful voice or recitation than his recitation." This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs using...

تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِىَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ

Takaadu tamayyazu minal ghaizi kullamaaa uliqya feehaa fawjun sa alahum khazanatuhaaa alam yaatikum nazeer

It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?"

گویا مارے جوش کے پھٹ پڑے گی۔ جب اس میں ان کی کوئی جماعت ڈالی جائے گی تو دوزخ کے داروغہ ان سے پوچھیں گے کہ تمہارے پاس کوئی ہدایت کرنے والا نہیں آیا تھا؟

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُ‌جُومًا لِّلشَّيَاطِينِ (And We have decorated the nearest sky with lamps, and have made them devices to stone the devils, and We have prepared for them the punishment of Hell....67:5). The word 'masabih' (translated above as 'la...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: almost exploding tamayyazu a variant reading has the original form tatamayyazu ripped apart with rage in wrath against the disbelievers. Whenever a host a group of them is flung into it its keepers ask them an interrogation of rebuke ‘Did there not come to you a warner?’ a messenger to warn you of G...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Description of Hell and Those Who will enter into it Allah the Exalted says, وَ (and) meaning, `and We have prepared,' لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْبِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ (for those who disbelieve in their Lord is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.) This...

عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ

'Alaihaa tis'ata 'ashar

Over it are nineteen [angels].

اس پر اُنیس داروغہ ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Annual Income of Walid Ibn Mughirah: Ten Million Guineas The disbeliever referred to here is Walid Ibn Mughirah. Allah had favoured him with abundant wealth, property and children. According to Ibn ` Abbas 4his land, property and gardens stretched from Makkah to Ta'if. According to Thauri, his a...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: There are nineteen keepers standing over it angels its keepers; a certain disbeliever who was a mighty stalwart said ‘I will avail you seventeen of them if you avail me just two’. God exalted be He says
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): A Threat for Whoever claims that the Qur'an is Magic Allah threatens this wicked person whom He has favored with the blessings of this world, yet he is ungrateful for the blessings of Allah and he meets them with disbelief (in Allah) and rejection of His Ayat. He invents lies against Allah's Ayat an...

وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَٰٓئِكَةً وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنًا وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَمَا هِىَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْبَشَرِ

Wa maaja''alnaaa As haaban naari illaa malaaa 'ikatanw wa maa ja'alnaa 'iddatahum illaa fitnatal lillazeena kafaroo liyastayqinal lazeena ootul kitaaba wa yazdaadal lazeena aamanooo eemaananw wa laa yartaabal lazeena ootul kitaaba walmu'minoona wa liyaqoolal lazeena fee quloo bihim maradunw walkaafiroona maazaaa araadal laahu bihaazaa masalaa; kazaalika yudillul laahu many yashaaa'u wa yahdee many yashaaa'; wa maa ya'lamu junooda rabbika illaa hoo; wa maa hiya illaa zikraa lil bashar

And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, "What does Allah intend by this as an example?" Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity.

اور ہم نے دوزخ کے داروغہ فرشتے بنائے ہیں۔ اور ان کا شمار کافروں کی آزمائش کے لئے مقرر کیا ہے (اور) اس لئے کہ اہل کتاب یقین کریں اور مومنوں کا ایمان اور زیادہ ہو اور اہل کتاب اور مومن شک نہ لائیں۔ اور اس لئے کہ جن لوگوں کے دلوں میں (نفاق کا) مرض ہے اور (جو) کافر (ہیں) کہیں کہ اس مثال (کے بیان کرنے) سے خدا کا مقصد کیا ہے؟ اسی طرح خدا جس کو چاہتا ہے گمراہ کرتا ہے اور جس کو چاہتا ہے ہدایت کرتا ہے اور تمہارے پروردگار کے لشکروں کو اس کے سوا کوئی نہیں جانتا۔ اور یہ تو بنی آدم کے لئے نصیحت ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُوْدَ رَبِّكَ اِلَّا هُو (...And no one knows the hosts of your Lord but He 74:31) Muqatil, among the leading authorities, says that this is rebuttal to Abu Jahl's statement. When he heard this verse which says that there are nineteen angels in charge of Hell, he addressed the yout...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We have appointed only angels as wardens of the Fire in other words and so they cannot be withstood as these disbelievers are wont to imagine; and We have made their number so only as a stumbling-block a cause for error for those who disbelieve when they then say ‘Why are there nineteen of them?...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Number of Guardians of Hell and what the Disbelievers said about that Allah says, وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَـبَ النَّارِ (And We have set none as (Ashab) guardians of the Fire) meaning, its guardians. إِلاَّ مَلَـئِكَةً (but angels.) Guardian angels, stern and severe. This is a refutation of the ido...

سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah

We will call the angels of Hell.

ہم بھی اپنے موکلانِ دوزخ کو بلا لیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Verse [ 15 - concluding part ] لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ (...We will certainly drag [ him ] by forelock.) The nasfa'an is derived from the infinitive safuun which means 'to seize and drag' and the word nasiyah means 'forelock', that is, the front part of a person's hair that falls forward over the ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: We shall call the Zabāniya the grim stern angels to destroy him as stated in the hadīth ‘Had he called his council of henchmen together the Zabāniya would have seized him right before his own eyes!’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Threat against Man's Transgression for the sake of Wealth Allah informs that man is very pleased, most evil, scornful and transgressive when he considers himself self-sufficient and having an abundance of wealth. Then Allah threatens, warns and admonishes him in His saying, إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ ا...

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