15 Preface لا يَصلاها إِلَّا الأَشقَىYusuf AliNone shall reach it1 but those most unfortunate onesThe Fire of Punishment will not reach any except those who have deliberately sinned against their conscience and rejected God’s Truth. The term used for them is “Ashqā” (superlative degree). Cf. 87:11. The corresponding idea in Christian theology is expressed in the following sentence. “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matt, xii. 31). “None shall reach it but those………”: the sinners of a lesser degree than the Ashqā”, though they may suffer a lighter punishment in Hell, will not suffer for the “Fire blazing fiercely”.