Question:
In Qur’an 74:31 it says, “We have made the number of the guardians of Hell a trial.” What is the explanation of this?
Answer:
In Surah 74, verse 31, the verse states that the guardians of Hell are angels, and that their number has been made a test for those who disbelieve.
To understand this properly we must look at verses 30 and 31 together.
The passage speaks about the Qur’an and then about Hell. While describing Hell, Allahﷻ says: “Over it are nineteen.”
That means nineteen angels are appointed as the guardians of Hell. Then the next verse explains further: “We have made none but angels as the guardians of Hell, and We have made their number only as a trial for those who disbelieve.”
This is the phrase you mentioned. Then the verse continues explaining the wisdom behind it:
- So that the People of the Book may gain certainty.
- So that the believers may increase in faith.
- So that the People of the Book and the believers will not doubt.
- And so that those with disease in their hearts and the disbelievers will say: “What does Allahﷻ mean by this example?”
So, the verse itself explains the reason.
Normally when people mention numbers, they use rounded numbers: ten people, twenty people, fifty people, and a dozen people. Numbers like 10, 20, and 50 are commonly used.
But Allahﷻ says nineteen. Nineteen is not a rounded number. Because of that, people begin questioning:
Why nineteen?
Why not twenty?
Why not a hundred?
Why exactly nineteen?
If Allahﷻ had said one hundred guardians, people would not ask questions. But when they hear nineteen, they start wondering.
That questioning becomes a test for the disbelievers.
Those who believe that Allahﷻ has authority to do whatever He wills will not be confused. But those who want everything to fit their own expectations will raise doubts. The disbeliever will say: Why nineteen? What is special about nineteen? Why not fifty? Why not a hundred?
But Allahﷻ also says something else: the previous scriptures already mention that the guardians of Hell are nineteen. So when the People of the Book hear this, they recognize it.
They say: this matches what is written in our scriptures. Even though the Prophetﷺ had not studied their scriptures, he states the same thing. That strengthens their certainty.
For the believers as well, their faith increases. They see that what Allahﷻ revealed matches what earlier scriptures contained.
So this number serves multiple purposes:
- It becomes a trial for the disbelievers.
- It confirms the truth for the People of the Book.
- It increases the faith of believers.
That is the explanation.