Al Islam

c. 6:49; 18:89; 25:71; 34:38. (close)

1786. The epithet "good deeds" is more applicable to such acts as are done at the proper occasion and suit the exigencies of time than to mere devotional acts, as is generally understood. (close)

b. 6:49; 18:89; 25:71; 34:38. (close)

2202. Commentary:

The epithet عمل صالح is more applicable to such acts as are done at the proper occasion and suit the exigencies of time than mere devotional acts, as is generally understood. (close)

a. 9:72; 13:24; 61:13. (close)

1787. The expression, Bil Ghaib, may also signify that the Faithful will get "Gardens of Eternity" because they believed in things which they did not see—God, angels, Hereafter, etc. (close)

c. 9:72; 13:24; 61:13. (close)

2203. Commentary:

The words جنات عدن signify divine favours and blessings which know no end or diminution.

The expression بالغیب signifies that the faithful will get gardens of eternity because they believed in things which they did not see—God, angels, Hereafter etc. Or it may signify that they will get gardens when there will be no apparent signs of their ever getting them.

The word مأتیاً (must come to pass) signifies that the fulfilment of the Divine promise is as sure as if it has already come to pass. It may also signify that the Faithful will be given gardens of eternity without any wish or desire on their part. (close)

b. 52:24; 56:26; 78:36. (close)

a. 52:24; 56:26; 78:36. (close)

2204. Commentary:

الا (but) is used here either as استثناء متصل or استثناء منقطع. In the former case the verse would mean that the apparently superfluous talk would also be productive of peace and will result in something useful and beneficial. In the latter case it would mean that the believers will hear nothing vain and useless but will live in perfect peace because there will be peace all round them. They will live in the presence of God Who is peace (59:24) and reside in the abode of peace (6:128) and angels will enter upon them with greetings of peace (13:25). For a full discussion about استثناء منقطع see 2:35.

The verse may also signify that the believers will attain such a high stage of righteousness in the gardens of eternity that they will hear no disparaging talk about one another i.e. there will be found absolutely no suspicion of any kind.

The sentence, They will have their sustenance therein, morning and evening, means that the believers will constantly hear the sweet voice of God, enjoy His sight and will receive the message of eternal peace. The word "sustenance" covers and applies to all these things. (close)

c. 7:44; 43:73; 52:18. (close)

b. 7:44; 43:73; 52:18. (close)

2205. Commentary:

The word نورث signifies that the believers being God’s own beloved children will get Paradise as of right. The word incidentally implies permanence of the gifts of Paradise and constitutes a refutation of any exclusive title of Jesus to be the son of God. (close)

2206. Commentary:

This verse explains vv. 13:‌24-25 wherein it is said: And angels shall enter unto them from every gate, saying 'Peace be unto you, because you were steadfast' and signifies that the angels would say to the Faithful that they did not bring them greetings of peace of their own accord but with the express command of God, their heavenly Father, and on His behalf.

The words "And thy Lord is not forgetful" mean that God has not forgotten His promise that "He will raise from among the brethren of the Israelites (i.e. the Ishmaelites) a Prophet like unto Moses and will put His words into his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that He shall command him" (Deut. 18:‌18). (close)

d. 37:6; 38:67; 44:8; 78:38. (close)

a. 37:6; 38:67; 44:8; 78:38. (close)

1788. Al-Insan (man) does not here mean man in general but a particular class of men, viz. those unfortunate disbelievers who doubt the existence of the Life after death. In fact, there are very few people in the world who totally deny the existence of the Hereafter. It is not by words of mouth but by their actual actions and deeds—their entire engrossment in material pursuits—that they express their doubt or denial of the Life beyond the grave. (close)

a. 23:38; 36:79. (close)

b. 23:38; 36:79. (close)

2207. Commentary:

الانسان (man) does not here mean man in general but a particular class of men, viz. those who doubt the existence of the life after death. In fact, there are very few people in the world who totally deny the existence of the Hereafter. It is not by their words of mouth but by their actual actions and deeds—their entire engrossment in material pursuits, that they express their doubt or denial of the life beyond the grave. The interrogative form of the words used in the verse shows that such people suffer merely from a lack of certainty with regard to life after death and not that they totally deny it. As the Surah deals with Christian dogmas and doctrines, so the present and the following several verses deal also with the doubts of Christians about life after death. (close)

b. 19:10; 76:2. (close)

1789. Anything worth mentioning or having any significance or importance. This meaning is supported by 76:2. (close)

a. 19:10; 76:2. (close)

2208. Commentary:

The word شیئاً here signifies شیئاً مذکوراً i.e. anything worth mentioning or having any significance or importance. This meaning is supported by 76:2. (close)

c. 10:29; 17:98; 34:41. (close)

1790. In Hebrew, Jahannam is used as Gehenna which in Aramaic originally was 'Hinnom,' but later on came to be changed into "Ge-Hinnom" (Enc. Bib.) which means, 'The valley of death or destruction.' The word may also have been a combination of Jahana which means, he went near, and Jahuma which means, his face became contracted. So Jahannam may also mean a thing or place which a person at first likes but when he goes near it, he comes to dislike it and contracts his face to show his dislike for it. Thus the very construction of the word explains the nature and character of Hell. (close)

b. 10:29; 17:98; 34:41. (close)

2209. Important Words:

جھنم (Hell). Commentators of the Quran generally agree that in Arabic this word has no root and is used as a proper name for the place of punishment reserved for the evildoers in the next world. Non-Arabic lexicographers, however, are of the opinion that it is an Aramaic word and is used for the place of punishment after death. In Hebrew it is used as Gehenna which in Aramaic originally was 'Hinnom' but later on came to be changed into "Ge-Hinnom" (Enc. Bib.) which means, "the valley of death or destruction." The word "Ge-Hinnom" also seems to have been a distorted form of the Arabic words ذو and ھنم, the latter word meaning 'a leopard'; and so ذو ھنم means a place where leopards live. Thus "Ge-Hinnom" which in Aramaic means the valley of death and destruction was originally ذو ھنم. The non-Arabs generally change the letter ذinto ج; so ذو ھنم became converted into the Aramaic 'Ge-Hinnom' and the Arabs borrowed it from the non-Arabs and turned it into جھنم. The word may also have been a combination of جھن which means, he went near, and جھمwhich means, he became contracted in the face. So جھنم may mean a thing or place which a person at first likes but when he goes near it he comes to dislike it and contracts his face to show his dislike for it. Thus the very construction of the word جھنم explains its nature and character, i.e. at first a person commits hellish deeds, thinking them to be good but when as a result of those deeds he approaches near Hell, he dislikes it and contracts his face to show his dislike. See also 2:207.

The word الشیاطین (Satans) applies to those philosophers and exponents of a materialistic concept of life who engender in the minds of disbelievers doubts regarding life after death. (close)

1791. Thumma meaning, then, i.e. afterwards, is a particle or conjunction denoting order and delay. Sometimes it is used to denote the order of enunciation, not the virtual order. It also has the meaning of 'and' and 'so' (Lane). (close)

2210. Important Words:

ثم meaning then, i.e. afterward or afterwards, is a particle or conjunction denoting order and delay. Sometimes it is used to denote the order of enunciation, not the virtual order. It also has the meaning of و (and) and ف (so) (Lane).

In the present verse ثم shows order i.e. this thing will happen after the thing that has been mentioned before. Some commentators of the Quran think that this verse can be explained by reading it as: ثم لننزعن من کل شیعة الذین یقال فیھم ایھم اشد علی الرحمان عتیاً i.e. then shall We certainly pick out from every group those about whom it will be said that they were most stubborn in rebellion against the Gracious God. Others are of the view that the expression ایھم اشد علی الرحمان عتیا is an independent and separate sentence and forms an answer to the words من ھم (who are they) which are understood before this sentence, and means, "they are those who were most stubborn in rebellion against the Gracious God. The words علی الرحمان mean against or in opposition to the Gracious God. (close)