Tafseer Ibn Kathir of IBRAHIM [49]

49. And you will see the criminals that Day, Muqarranun (bound together) in fetters. 50. Their garments will be of Qatiran (tar), and fire will cover their faces. 51. That Allah may requite each person according to what he has earned. Truly, Allah is swift at reckoning. Allah said,

(On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens) `and the creations will be brought before their Lord, and you, O Muhammad, will witness the criminals who committed the crimes of Kufr and mischief,'

(Muqarranin) bound together, each with his or her like, just as Allah said,

(Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions.) ï´¿37:22ï´¾

(And when the souls are joined with their bodies.)ï´¿81:7ï´¾,

(And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction.) ï´¿25:13ï´¾ and,

(And also the Shayatin from the Jinn (including) every kind of builder and diver, and also others bound in fetters.)ï´¿38:37-38ï´¾ Allah said next,

(Their garments will be of Qatiran (pitch),) that is used to coat camels. Qatadah commented that Qatiran (tar) is one of the fastest objects to catch fire. Ibn `Abbas used to say that the Qatiran, mentioned in the Ayah, is dissolved lead. It is possible that this Ayah reads as: (سَرَابِيلُهُمْ مِنْ قَطِرٍآنٍ) refering to heated lead that has reached tremendous heat, according to Mujahid, Ikrimah, Sa'id bin Jubayr Al-Hasan and Qatadah. Allah said next,

(and fire will cover their faces), which is similar to His other statement,

(The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips.)ï´¿23:104ï´¾ Imam Ahmad recorded that Yahya bin Abi Ishaq said that Aban bin Yazid said that Yahya bin Abi Kathir said that Zayd bin Abi Salam said that Abu Malik Al-Ash`ari said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Four characteristics from the time of Jahiliyyah will remain in my Ummah, since they will not abandon them: boasting about their family lineage, discrediting family ties, seeking rain through the stars, and wailing for their dead. Verily, if she who wails, dies before she repents from her behavior, she will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection while wearing a dress of Qatiran and a cloak of mange.) Muslim collected this Hadith. Allah said next,

(That Allah may requite each person according to what he has earned.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection. Allah said in another Ayah,

(That He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done.) ï´¿53:31ï´¾ Allah said here,

(Truly, Allah is swift at reckoning.) when He wills to reckon a servants of His, for He knows everything and nothing ever escapes His observation. Verily, His power over all of His creation is the same as His power over one creature,

(The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as a single person. )ï´¿31:28ï´¾ And this is why Mujahid said,

(swift at reckoning), means ”keeping count.''