Surah Al Isra Tafseer

عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَن يَرْحَمَكُمْ

with utter destruction. It may be that your Lord may show mercy unto you,

meaning that He may rid you of them.

وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا

but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our punishment).

meaning, if you return to causing mischief,

عُدْنَا

(We shall return) means,

We `will once again punish you in this world, along with the punishment and torment We save for you in the Hereafter.'

وَجَعَلْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ حَصِيرًا

And We have made Hell a prison (Hasir) for the disbelievers.

meaning, a place of permanent detention, a prison which cannot be avoided or escaped.

Ibn Abbas said,

"Hasir here means a jail."

Mujahid said,

"They will be detained in it."

Others said like- wise.

Al-Hasan said,

"Hasir means a bed of Fire."

Qatadah said:

"The Children of Israel returned to aggression, so Allah sent this group against them, Muhammad and his companions, who made them pay the Jizyah, with willing submission, and feeling themselves subdued.