Quranic Sciences

68. " So by your Lord, We shall surely muster them, and the Satans (with them), then We shall cause them to be present round Hell on their knees."

69. " Then shall We pick out from every group whichever of them was more intensely rebellious against the Beneficent (Allah)."

70. " Again We do know best those who deserve most to be burnt therein."

Commentary

In the first holy verse, the Qur'an, with a very sharp tone, threatens the deniers of Resurrection and faithless sinners, when it says:

" So by your Lord, We shall surely muster them, and the Satans (with them), …"

In many occurrences of the Qur'an, Allah has sworn to His creatures, but, for the Resurrection, He has sworn to His Holy Essence.

Then, in this very verse the Qur'an continues saying:

"… then We shall cause them to be present round Hell on their knees."

This verse denotes that the court of faithless persons and that of the sinners are nigh to Hell.

The Arabic term /ji?iyya/ (regarding the fact that /ji?iyy/ is the plural form of /ja?i/ which means a person who has sat on his knees) may refer to their weakness, disability, disgrace, and despicableness. As if they have not ability to stand on their feet. This term, of course, has some other meanings, too. Among them is that some commentators have rendered the term /ji?iyy/ into people 'in crowds', and some others have meant it into 'masses', and to be 'heaped up', like some soil and stones. But the first meaning is more fitting and more famous.

Since in that court of justice priorities are regarded, by the next verse the Qur'an implies that the most rebellious ones will be picked out first. The verse says:

" Then shall We pick out from every group whichever of them was more intensely rebellious against the Beneficent (Allah)."

The same impudent ones, that even forgot the merits of the Beneficent Allah, began rebelling and acting rudely before their Benefactor. Yes, such people are the most deserved ones to the Fire of Hell.

This meaning has been emphasize on again in the next holy verse, where it says:

" Again We do know best those who deserve most to be burnt therein."

The Qur'an indicates that Allah (s.w.t.) will pick out them properly and no mistake may happen in this picking out.

The Qur'anic word /siliyy/ means both 'to lighten a fire', and 'the thing which is burnt by means of fire'.

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Maryam" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"