Surah Al-Muddaththir, Verse 36

Tafsir of 74:36

The Number of Guardians of Hell and what the Disbelievers said about that Allah says, وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَبَ النَّارِ (And We have set none as (Ashab) guardians of the Fire) meaning, its guardians. إِلاَّ مَلَئِكَةً (but angels.) Guardian angels, stern and severe. This is a refutation of the idolators of the Quraysh when they mentioned the number of guardian angels. Abu Jahl said, "O people of Quraysh! Are not every ten among you able to defeat one of them" So Allah said, وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَبَ النَّارِ إِلاَّ مَلَئِكَةً (And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire.) meaning, extremely strong in their creation. They cannot be stood against nor defeated. It has been said that Abu Al-Ashaddayn, and his name was Kaladah bin Usayd bin Khalaf, said, "O people of Quraysh! You defend me against two of them and I will defend you against seventeen of them." He said this thinking himself to be very great. For they claimed that he achieved such strength that he would stand on a skin of cow hide and ten people would try to pull it out from under his feet, but the skin would be torn to pieces and still not be removed from under him.…

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged)