The provided tafsir sources for verse 2:23 do not directly address the mechanism by which stones fuel a fire in 2:24. The focus of the given tafsir is on the challenge presented by the Quran's inimitability, specifically the inability of humans and jinn to produce a surah like it.

Verse 2:24, "فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ" (Then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones), mentions stones (الْحِجَارَةُ) as fuel (وَقُودُهَا). While the tafsir doesn't elaborate on the *how*, it highlights the terrifying nature of this Fire, which is prepared for disbelievers. The mention of "men and stones" as fuel signifies an extraordinary and intense fire, far beyond earthly fires.

Linguistically, "وَقُودُهَا" (waqūduhā) means its fuel or kindling. The dual nature of the fuel, "men and stones," emphasizes the severity and unique properties of Hellfire. This description serves as a stark warning, contrasting the inability to replicate the Quran's divine message with the undeniable reality of a formidable punishment for those who reject it.

Other Quranic verses, such as 66:6, similarly describe Hellfire with "people and stones" as its fuel, reinforcing this specific characteristic without detailing the scientific process. The primary message is one of severe consequence and the unique, terrifying nature of divine punishment.

📚 Sources: Classical tafsir (multi-source)