فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ
21:101.
Important Words:
زفیر (sighing) is the noun-infinitive from زفر which means, he drew in his breath vehemently, so that his ribs became pushed out; or he drew in his breath to the utmost by reason of distress; or he sent forth his breath with a prolonged sound; he sighed or uttered a long sigh or sighed vehemently; or he groaned; or he breathed, raising his voice like one moaning or in grief. They say زفرت النار i.e. the fire made a sound by its burning or its fierce burning. زفر الحمار means, the ass brayed. زفیر means, the sound of drawing in of breath by reason of distress; sighing; beginning of the cry of an ass; the sound of burning fire (Lane & Aqrab).
شھیق (sobbing) is derived from شھق which means, it rose high or became high or elevated or lofty; or he (an ass) uttered the ending of his braying or the final sounds thereof. They say شھق الرجل i.e. the sound of weeping became reiterated in his chest. شھق الحمار means, the ass uttered the ending of his braying or the final sound thereof; the ass brayed. شھیق signifies, the ending or final part of the crying or braying of an ass, whereas زفیر signifies the beginning thereof. شھیق also signifies a high-sounding moaning; a cry of distress (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
By using about disbelievers the words زفیر and شھیق which are particularly used for the braying of an ass, the verse compares them to this timid and stupid animal. A big load of books carried on the back of an ass, says the Quran (62:6), does not make him learned. So do those who are indifferent to truth remain destitute of true knowledge and spirituality even if they are crammed with book lore. Similarly, like an ass which, according to the Quran, is a timid animal (74:51, 52), disbelievers have not the courage of their conviction. They fail to accept the truth either because they refuse to derive any benefit from God-given knowledge or because they have not the courage to accept what they believe to be the truth. The words زفیر and شھیق also signify sighing and moaning by reason of distress.
21:101.
Zafir means, the beginning of the cry of an ass and Shahiq is the ending thereof (Lane). The disbelievers have been likened in the verse to an ass which is a timid and stupid animal, signifying that they have not the courage of their convictions and do not benefit by knowledge.