Surah Qaf 50:30
سُورَةُ قٓ · Meccan · Verse 30 of 45
يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍۢ
Translation
We shall say to Hell on that day, ‘Are you full?’ and it will reply, ‘Are there no more?’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse paints a vivid picture from the Day of Judgment, showing us a conversation between Allah and Hell itself. It follows Allah's declaration that He is not unjust to His servants (Quran 50:29), setting the stage for a dramatic scene that underscores His power and the reality of His warnings.
Allah's Question
The verse begins: "يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ ٱمْتَلَأْتِ" (The Day We say to Hell, 'Have you been filled?'). The word "نقول" (We say) emphasizes that Allah, in His Majesty, is the Speaker. This question isn't asked out of ignorance, but to confirm His promise to fill Hell with jinn and humans, as Ibn Ashur notes, and to instill awe and fear in those being driven to it. The entire scenario is meant to serve as a profound lesson for believers and a stark warning for disbelievers, as Ibn Ashur explains.
Hell's Reply: "Is There More?"
Then Hell replies: "وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍۢ" (And it says, 'Is there any more?'). This specific wording, "هل من مزيد" (Is there any more?), carries deep meaning. Scholars offer several profound interpretations:
One widely accepted understanding, held by scholars like al-Zamakhshari, al-Razi, and Ibn Ashur, is that Hell is *asking for more*. It expresses an insatiable appetite, a craving for additional wrongdoers out of its rage against those who disobeyed Allah. Al-Razi adds that this could happen before all are entered, with Hell's fiery rage calming only when disobedient believers enter, their faith cooling its intensity. Some scholars, like al-Jalalayn, held an alternative view that "Is there any more?" indicates it is already full and can hold no more. However, the plain meaning (al-Muyassar) of the verse, and other extensive commentaries, describe that it *then* says "Enough, enough!" *after* Allah places His Foot, signifying it has finally been filled. Thus, the initial "هل من مزيد" is a powerful expression of its vastness and eagerness to fulfill its purpose.
The Power of Personification
The Quran here gives Hell a voice and a will, a literary device called personification. This is not mere poetic imagery, but a profound reality. As Ibn Ashur and Ahmad, in his critique of al-Zamakhshari, emphasize, Allah is fully capable of granting Hell the ability to perceive and speak literally. This vivid portrayal, as described by al-Jadwal, helps us grasp the terrifying scale of Hell. It depicts it as a "greedy, never-satiated" entity, eager to receive those who rejected guidance.
This powerful wording is a sobering reminder of the Day of Judgment, confirming Allah's absolute power and the inevitable fulfillment of His promises, both of reward and punishment. It invites us to ponder the immense reality of Hell and to strive to be among those who are saved from its embrace.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Qaf 50:30 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Qaf 50:30 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.