Overview (Verses 55 - 64)

The sūrah does not dwell on how the believers face the reckoning. Instead, it moves quickly on to show their happy end: Those who are destined for paradise are today happily occupied. Together with their spouses, they will be in shady groves seated on soft couches. There they have fruit and whatever they ask for: peace and fulfilment through the word of the Lord of mercy. (Verses 55-58) They are occupied with the comforts available to them, happy, relaxed, enjoying the fruits served to them and the shady groves providing a cool breeze. They are joined by their spouses in perfect enjoyment. Whatever they need is immediately made available to them. Above all this, they are honoured with a greeting of peace from none other than their merciful Lord.
 
By contrast the sūrah dwells on the scene of reckoning faced by the others. It is shown with all that it involves of reproach and blame: But stand aside today, you guilty ones! Children of Adam! Did I not enjoin on you that you should not worship Satan, as he is your open foe, and that you should worship Me alone? This is the straight path. He had already led astray a great many of you. Could you not, then, use your reason? This, then, is the hell that you were repeatedly warned against: endure it today for your persistent rejection [of the truth]. (Verses 59-64) Contempt marks the treatment they receive. They are first told to stand aside, away from the believers. They are then addressed as ‘Children of Adam,’ which is an address implying reproach: “Children of Adam! Did 1 not enjoin on you that you should not worship Satan, as he is your open foe.” (Verse 60) It was Satan who caused the expulsion of their father, Adam, from heaven. He has declared his permanent hostility to them, yet they continue to worship him.
 
They were also enjoined to do something that was certain to set them on a straight path, leading to God’s pleasure and a happy end in the life to come: “You should worship Me alone. This is the straight path.” (Verse 61) They are reminded that this enemy led astray many generations. Hence the rhetorical question: “Could you not, then, use your reason?” (Verse 62) At the end of this very hard and humiliating position, the dreaded sentence is passed, given in overtones of reproach and derision: “This, then, is the hell that you were repeatedly warned against: endure it today for your persistent rejection [of the truth].” (Verses 63-64)