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Fatwa CenterMeaning of 'ahqaab' in verse 78:23
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. What does verse 23 in chapter 78 mean when it says 'ahqaab'.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The verse in reference is about the people of Hellfire, may Allaah safeguard us all from it. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {In which they will remain for ages (unending).} [Quran 78:23]
Scholars of Tafseer (exegesis) commented on the verse, saying:
"The verse means that the inhabitants of Hellfire shall abide therein eternally. The Arabic word 'ahqaab' is the plural of 'huqub', which means a period of time. Thus, ahqaab means an endless time, since every time one huqub ends, another huqub starts. In reference to ahqaab, it has no specific amount of time other than its general meaning of eternity in Hellfire."
Al-Qurtubi 
said, "The verse means that the people of Hellfire shall reside therein forever. It is that which has no end to it. Whenever one period comes to an end, a new one follows it. Ahqaab means ages."
Allaah knows best.
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