What is the meaning of "remaining therein for ages" (labithīna fīhā aḥqābā)?

Allah Almighty's saying: "{Remaining therein for ages}" means staying in it for long periods. Scholars differed in estimating the duration of an age (huqub):

- Ibn Abbas: A huqub is eighty years, a year is 360 days, and a day is 1000 years of what you count. - Ali ibn Abi Talib: A huqub is 80 years, each year 12 months, each month 30 days, and each day 1000 years.

Al-Qurtubi said: "{Remaining therein for ages}" means staying in the Fire as long as the ages last, and they do not cease; whenever an age passes, another age comes. This eternity is for the polytheists, and the verse can be interpreted to refer to disobedient Muslims who will exit the Fire after ages.