[1910] Another accepted meaning is "They were working hard and exhausted," i.e., doing deeds during worldly life which did not benefit them since they were not accompanied by faith or done for the acceptance of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) .
Verse 3 of Surah Al-Ghashiyah (88:3), a Meccan surah, is in juz 30, on page 592 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 74 reciters.
Listen to verse 3 of Surah Al-Ghashiyah
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Tafsir of verse 3
Al-Mukhtasar
Tired and strained due to the chains that they will be dragged by and the shackles that they will be tied with.
[1] They will be burdened with the heavy shackles in the Hereafter, or they performed deeds in their worldly life which were bereft of faith or not done for the sake of Allah.
Labouring (hard in the worldly life by worshipping others besides Allâh), weary (in the Hereafter with humility and disgrace).2
Notes
[2] (V.88:3) Narrated ‘Abdullâh رضي الله عنه: "The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said one statement and I said another. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allâh as a rival to Allâh, will enter Hell (Fire).’ And I said, ‘Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allâh, will enter Paradise.’" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.6, Hadith No.24).