According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the Quranic term Residents of Hell, or Aṣḥāb al-Nār (أصحاب النار), refers to those who are destined for an eternal state of punishment due to their fundamental choices and actions in life. The primary defining characteristic, as explained by tafsir authorities like Ibn Kathir, is dying upon a state of disbelief (kufr) and rejecting Allah's signs and messengers. This rejection is often coupled with arrogance (istikbār), as highlighted in verses like Al-A'raf 7:36. Al-Qurtubi's analysis of verses such as Al-Baqarah 2:81 emphasizes that persistent, unrepented major sins that 'encompass' an individual also lead to this fate. The linguistic meaning of 'Aṣḥāb' (Companions) implies an inseparable and perpetual state, underscoring the eternal nature of their abode. The synthesis of numerous verses and scholarly commentaries presents a clear picture: the Residents of Hell are those who, through their own volition, chose a path of denial and transgression, resulting in a just and eternal consequence in the Hereafter.