Who are the 'Wretched' (Ash-Shaqi) mentioned in the Quran?

According to the Quran, the 'Wretched' (Ash-Shaqi) are those who, on the Day of Judgment, are destined for Hellfire. Classical scholars explain this state is the result of denying the truth and turning away from Allah's guidance during their earthly life.

What happens to the Wretched on the Day of Judgment?

Surah Hud (11:106) states that the Wretched will be in the Fire, where they will experience 'sighing and wailing'. Tafsir scholars describe this as sounds of deep anguish and torment, indicating their profound suffering and regret in Hellfire.

What actions lead someone to become one of the 'most Wretched'?

Surah Al-Layl (92:15-16) specifies that the 'most Wretched' is the one who 'denies and turns away'. Islamic commentators, like As-Sa'di, explain this means denying the core truths of Islam and turning away from obedience to Allah's commands.

The Wretched (Ash-Shaqi) in the Quran: A State of Spiritual Loss

Wretched

الشقي

Explore Verses Related to Wretched

🕋Hud11:105 🕋Hud11:106 🕋Al-Layl92:14 🕋Al-Layl92:15

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the term 'Wretched' (Ash-Shaqi) is an eschatological state described in the Quran signifying ultimate spiritual loss and eternal punishment. The synthesis of verses across Surah Hud and Surah Al-Layl, as explained by commentators like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, defines the Wretched as those who will inhabit the Hellfire, experiencing deep anguish and regret. This state is not arbitrary; Surah Al-Layl clarifies that it is the direct consequence of specific actions: denying the truth and turning away from divine guidance and obedience. The linguistic root of the Arabic term points to misery and hardship, which is manifested in the Hereafter as the torment of the Fire. This Quranic concept stands in direct opposition to the state of the 'Blessed' (As-Sa'id), serving as a stark warning about the consequences of disbelief and the misuse of free will.

📖 Quranic Context

Serves as a primary descriptor for the inhabitants of Hellfire, contrasted directly with the 'Blessed' (As-Sa'id).

Represents a state of being cut off from Allah's mercy in the Hereafter due to choices made in worldly life.

References: 11:105, 11:106, 92:15

💭 Theological Perspective

A potential state resulting from the misuse of free will, specifically through disbelief and rejection of guidance.

The ultimate state of spiritual despair and anguish.

Acts as a severe warning to humanity about the consequences of ignoring divine revelation.

Represents the absolute nadir of spiritual failure, motivating believers towards the path of the 'Blessed'.

📜 Hadith Perspective

Prophetic traditions elaborate on the deeds and characteristics that lead to this state, reinforcing the Quranic warnings.

Actions determining one's final state
The contrast between the people of Paradise and the people of Hellfire

Universal agreement among Islamic scholars on its meaning as a state of damnation for disbelievers who reject the truth.

💎 Deeper Insights

The term 'Ash-Shaqi' isn't just about punishment, but about profound misery and unfortunateness. The linguistic root implies a state of hardship that is the opposite of ease and success, reframing the concept from mere torment to the ultimate failure to achieve one's true human potential.

— Al-Tabari

Surah Hud's description of the Wretched's sounds as 'Zafir' and 'Shahiq' (exhaling and inhaling like a donkey) is a powerful rhetorical device. It signifies their complete loss of humanity and intellectual dignity, reducing their eternal existence to a base, animalistic expression of pain and regret—a stark contrast to their arrogance in the world.

— Yusuf Ali (in Tafsir), Classical Commentators