Verse Meaning

According to the unanimous consensus of classical scholars, including Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari, and Al-Qurtubi, the phrase 'innaha alayhim mu'sadah' in Quran 104:8 signifies that the Hellfire will be an inescapable prison, completely sealed shut upon its inhabitants. The scholars explain that the Arabic word 'mu'sadah' means 'mutbaqah' (covered or sealed) and 'mughlaqah' (locked). This is derived from the Arabic expression 'awsada al-bab,' meaning 'he locked the door.' This imagery powerfully conveys the finality of the punishment and the complete loss of hope for those inside. As Imam As-Saddi notes, this sealed state means they are imprisoned within, having lost all hope of ever exiting. The description emphasizes that for the slanderers and backbiters warned against in the surah, there will be no escape, no exit, and no reprieve from the torment of the Fire.