Surah Al-Hajj 22:21

The Reason for Revelation

It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Dharr swore that this Ayah --

(These two opponents dispute with each other about their Lord;) was revealed concerning Hamzah and his two companions, and `Utbah and his two companions, on the day of Badr when they came forward to engage in single combat. This is the wording of Al-Bukhari in his Tafsir of this Ayah. Then Al-Bukhari recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib said, "I will be the first one to kneel down before the Most Merciful so that the dispute may be settled on the Day of Resurrection." Qays (sub-narrator) said, "Concerning them the Ayah was revealed:

(These two opponents dispute with each other about their Lord;) He (Qays) said, "They are the ones who came forward (for single combat) on the day of Badr: `Ali, Hamzah and `Ubaydah vs., Shaybah bin Rabi`ah, `Utbah bin Rabi`ah and Al-Walid bin `Utbah." This was reported only by Al-Bukhari. Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid commented on this Ayah, "Such as the disbeliever and the believer disputing about the Resurrection." According to one report Mujahid and `Ata' commented on this Ayah, "This refers to the believers and the disbelievers." The view of Mujahid and `Ata' that this refers to the disbelievers and the believers, includes all opinions, the story of Badr as well as the others. For the believers want to support the religion of Allah, while the disbelievers want to extinguish the light of faith and to defeat the truth and cause falsehood to prevail. This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir, and it is good.

The Punishment of the Disbelievers

(then as for those who disbelieved, garments of fire will be cut out for them,) meaning, pieces of fire will be prepared for them. Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "Of copper, for it is the hottest of things when it is heated." n

(boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt (or vanish away) what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins.) meaning, when the boiling water --which is water that has been heated to the ultimate degree- is poured down over their heads. Ibn Jarir recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said:

(The boiling water will be poured over their heads and will penetrate their skulls until it reaches what is inside, and what is inside will melt until it reaches their feet. This is the melting, then he will be restored to the state he was before.) It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said it is Hasan Sahih. This was also recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim, who then recorded that `Abdullah bin As-Sariy said, "The angel will come to him, carrying the vessel with a pair of tongs because of its heat. When he brings it near to his face, he will shy away from it. He will raise a hammer that he is carrying and will strike his head with it, and his brains will spill out, then he will pour the brains back into his head. This is what Allah says in the Ayah:

(With it will melt what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins.)"

(And for them are hooked rods of iron.) Ibn `Abbas said, "They will be struck with them, and with each blow, a limb will be severed, and they will cry out for oblivion."

(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein,) Al-A`mash reported from Abu Zibiyan that Salman said, "The fire of Hell is black and dark; its flames and coals do not glow or shine." Then he recited:

(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein,)

("Taste the torment of burning!") This is like the Ayah:

(and it will be said to them: "Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.") 32:20. The meaning is that they will be humiliated by words and actions.

Ayat ini menerangkan bahwa enam golongan manusia tersebut di atas dapat dibagi kepada dua golongan saja, yaitu golongan kafir dan golongan mukmin. Yang termasuk golongan kafir ialah orang-orang Yahudi, orang-orang shabi'in, orang-orang Nasrani, orang-orang Majusi dan orang-orang yang mempersekutukan Allah. Kelima golongan ini mempunyai asas-asas kepercayaan yang berbeda, golongan yang satu tidak mengakui bahkan mengingkari pokok-pokok kepercayaan golongan yang lain, sehingga antara mereka terjadi pertikaian pendapat yang kadang-kadang meningkat menjadi permusuhan. Golongan kedua ialah golongan mukmin yaitu golongan yang taat kepada Allah. Antara golongan pertama dan golongan kedua sering terjadi perdebatan dan permusuhan, sebagaimana yang dilukiskan dan sabab nuzul ayat di atas.

Dalam ayat ini dan ayat berikutnya akan digambarkan bentuk-bentuk hukuman dan azab yang akan diterima oleh orang-orang kafir serta bentuk-bentuk nikmat yang akan diterima oleh orang-orang mukmin kelak.

Azab yang akan diterima oleh orang-orang kafir diterangkan Allah sebagai berikut:

1. Orang-orang kafir itu akan dimasukkan ke dalam api neraka yang panas menyala-nyala, sehingga api itu meliputi seluruh badan mereka, seperti pakaian yang membungkus dan meliputi seluruh badan orang yang memakainya.

Pada ayat lain diterangkan pula keadaan orang-orang kafir di dalam neraka; mereka diliputi api neraka sampai meliputi seluruh badan mereka. Allah berfirman:

Bagi mereka tikar tidur dari api neraka dan di atas mereka ada selimut (api neraka). Demikianlah Kami memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang zalim. (al-A'raf/7: 41)

Sebagian ulama berpendapat bahwa pakaian yang menutupi seluruh badan mereka itu, terbuat dari cairan aspal sangat panas, sebagaimana firman Allah:

Pakaian mereka dari cairan aspal, dan wajah mereka ditutup oleh api neraka. (Ibrahim/14: 50)

2. Dituangkan ke atas kepala mereka air yang mendidih yang sangat panas. Hadis Nabi Muhammad saw menjelaskan pula hal ini

Dari Abi Hurairah, sesungguhnya dia membaca ayat ini, ia berkata, "Aku mendengar Rasulullah saw, bersabda, "Sesungguhnya air panas mendidih dituangkan ke atas kepala mereka (orang-orang kafir), lalu air panas itu menembus ubun-ubunnya sampai ke rongga perutnya, maka dihancurkannya apa yang berada dalam rongga perut itu, hingga sampailah air panas itu ke tumitnya dan dalam keadaan cair, kemudian (tubuh orang itu) kembali seperti semula. (Riwayat at-Tirmidzi)

3. Mereka dicambuk dengan cemeti-cemeti yang terbuat dari besi, hingga mengenai muka, kepala dan seluruh tubuhnya. Dari Abi Sa'id al-Khudriy, dari Rasulullah bersabda, "Seandainya cambuk dan besi diletakkan di bumi kemudian berkumpul manusia dan jin, mereka tidak bisa mengangkatnya dari bumi. (Riwayat Ahmad)

4. Setiap mereka mencoba lari keluar dari neraka, mereka dihalau dan dicambuk dengan cemeti itu, seraya dikatakan kepada mereka, "Rasakanlah olehmu azab ini, sebagai balasan bagi keingkaran dan kedurhakaan."

Inilah gambaran azab ukhrawi yang diterangkan Allah kepada manusia. Dengan keterangan itu manusia dapat membayangkan bagaimana hebat dan pedihnya azab yang diterima orang-orang kafir di hari Kiamat, sehingga gambaran itu merupakan kabar yang menakutkan baginya. Hal ini sebagai salah satu cara Al-Qur'an meyakinkan manusia dan menyadarkannya dari keingkaran dan kedurhakaan yang telah diperbuatnya. Bagaimana hakekat yang sebenarnya dari azab ukhrawi itu, adalah termasuk pengetahuan yang gaib, hanya Allah sajalah yang Maha Mengetahui, mungkin sesuai dengan yang dilukiskan itu yang berupa azab jasmani atau mungkin pula berupa azab jasmani dan azab rohani.