SYNOPSIS OF SURAH YASEEN (Part 3)
لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
- Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them, so they will not believe.
The verse explains that the punishment of the fire of Hell has become essential for most of the unbelievers because of their persistence in disbelief and denial of the truth. They paid no heed to the warnings and reminders, and they chose the path of disbelief above the path of belief, hence, they became deserving of the punishment which Allah had already decreed for such people.
While commenting on the above verse, some commentators of the Holy Quran have stated that ‘the word which has proved true against most of the unbelievers’ refers to the statement which Allah has made in the following verse: ‘Surely, I shall fill Hell with jinn and men all together.’ (Sura Hud, Verse 119)
This statement was made regarding those who do not believe in Allah and His Messengers. (Tafseer Al Bahr Al Muheet, Vol.9, Pg.49, Dar Al Fikr / Tafseer Mazhari, Vol.9, Pg.357, Darul Ishaat Karachi 2010)
‘The word has proved true against them’ means that the promise which Allah has made to punish those who will die on Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk (polytheism), shall surely come to pass. Those who will adopt the path of misguidance are already known to Allah, and so, He has made His decree already regarding them, hence, they will not believe. (Tafseer Al Qurtubi, Vol.15, Pg.11, Maktab Rasheedya)
Verse 8 of Sura Yaseen states:
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلَالًا فَهِيَ إِلَى الْأَذْقَانِ فَهُمْ مُقْمَحُونَ
- Verily! We have put on their necks iron collars reaching to chins, so that their heads are forced up.
As stated by many commentators of the Holy Quran, the above verse is given as a similitude to describe the state that the unbelievers are in. It is as if their state is such that iron collars have been placed around their necks up to their chins, which make it impossible for them to move their heads. Thus, their heads remain focused and fixed only in one direction. This description is a metaphorical one which explains the firm determination that the unbelievers have, to remain on disbelief, and not to pay attention to the message of the Prophet ﷺ. The verse explains that the unbelievers have made themselves like those who have placed iron collars around their necks which make their heads and necks immovable. Therefore, they cannot turn their attention to that which is beneficial and good, nor can they move their necks to the right direction. Due to the iron collars, their necks are raised up and are not able to move up and down. In this way, they are not able to lower their heads and gaze, and witness the truth of the message of Islam so that they may accept it. They have made themselves in such a state that they cannot see the truth, nor can they look in its direction.