• The Various Kinds Of Blissful Abodes And Enjoyments And The Plentiful Provisions Which Await The Righteous As The Reward For Their Good Deeds

Ar-Rahman Verses 46 - 78

وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ

“And for him who feareth the time of standing before his Lord are two gardens1“ (55:46)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:47)

ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ

“With over-branching trees (in each of the two gardens)2“ (55:48)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:49)

فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ

“In both of them are two fountains flowing” (55:50)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:51)

فِيهِمَا مِنْ كُلِّ فَاكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ

“In each of them, of every fruit, are two kinds3“ (55:52)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:53)

مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشٍ بَطَائِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ وَجَنَى الْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ

“Reclining on beds, the inner coverings of which are of silk brocade; the fruit of (both) the gardens shall be nigh (within easy reach)” (55:54)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:55)

فِيهِنَّ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنْسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ

“Therein shall be damsels with retiring glances, whom hath touched not ever before, any human being nor a jinn4“ (55:56)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:57)

كَأَنَّهُنَّ الْيَاقُوتُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ

“As though they were rubies and pearls” (55:58)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:59)

هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ

“Is the recompense for good aught but good?5“ (55:60)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:61)

وَمِنْ دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ

“And besides these (two) are two other gardens” (55:62)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:63)

مُدْهَامَّتَانِ

“Dark-green in colour (being plentifully watered)” (55:64)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:65)

فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ

“In them both are two springs gushing forth” (55:66)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:67)

فِيهِمَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ

“In them both are fruits and palms and pomegranates” (55:68)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:69)

فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَاتٌ حِسَانٌ

“In them are virtuous women, beautiful ones6“ (55:70)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:71)

حُورٌ مَقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ

“Fair ones, close-guarded, in pavilions” (55:72)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:73)

لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنْسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ

“Hath touched them not ever before any human being nor any jinn7“ (55:74)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:75)

مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ

“Reclining on cushions green and carpets beautiful8“ (55:76)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“Which then of the bounties of your Lord will ye two belie?” (55:77)

تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

“Hallowed is the name of thy Lord, the Lord of Glory and Grace!” (55:78)

Commentary

Verse 46

The Two Gardens, might mean variety of the blissful life the pious ones would have.

Corresponding to the true faith and good deeds (A.P.).

Verse 50

The Two Springs are called ‘Tasneem’ and ‘Salsaheel’ They could be of clean, clear and refreshing waters and of the delicious and pleasing drinks. The dual springs, here also, as in the case of the gardens might mean variety.

Verse 52

Ibn Abbas says there shall be no fruit of this world the like of which would not be in the heavens, besides there would be such other delicious fruits which would neither have had been seen nor tasted before.

All sorts of fruits in pairs, corresponding to various aspects of true faith and good deeds. (A.P.)

Verse 60

Note the simplest, shortest and the best expression given to the phenomenon of equity:

1. The return for service to God, increase in the status.

2. The thanksgiving, further increases the grant of the bounties.

3. The piety brings enjoyment.

4. The repentance earns forgiveness.

The Holy Prophet said that he who declared God’s unity saying: ‘La ilaha illa Allah’, shall have Paradise. The Holy Prophet said: “If you do any goodness in return for any goodness already done then the one who did it first shall he entitled to a greater reward for the good was one not in return, and if you want your goodness to earn a greater reward, then do more than the goodness what has been done to you.”

As there is a sure reward for every goodness9, every evil will also have its return10, unless forgiveness for it had been sought and earned before the Day of Judgment, i.e., in this life.

(a) The verses from 46-60: Each pleasing entertainment of the life hereafter corresponds with something good done by man here.

(b) Ayashi narrates from the Sixth Holy Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq referring to this verse, that this passage in the Holy Qur’an which stands as an established principle which applies to everyone, whether a believer or disbeliever - whether righteous or unrighteous, to whomsoever good is done, it is incumbent on him to return it with good and the good done in return should not be equal to the good already done, it should preponderate the former as otherwise the upper hand will be of the doer of the good in the first instance - and this principle also stands even between the Creator and the creatures except the point that the Creator is not in need of any of our good to Him (A.P.).

Verse 62

Heavens (Paradise), will not be of any one single fixed nature or kind. There will be gardens or the places of eternal bliss of various kinds and degrees, even the sight of which would be giving pleasure and amusement - These places would be the environment of the blissful abode granted to the pious.

Abu Basir asked the Sixth Holy Imam, Ja’far Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq: “Master! would the believer-pious wife of a believer-pious man be the wife of the man also in the heaven?” The Holy Imam replied, “O’ Abu-Muhammad! God is All-Just, if the husband be of a greater faith and piety than his wife, he will have the choice of having his wife as his mate and if the wife be greater than her husband in faith and piety, she will have the option of having her husband with her.”

People will be placed in the various places of different degrees of bliss. Those in the higher states will be able to visit the lower ones, but those in the lower states will not be able to visit the higher ones. Those of the believers who had been indulged also, in the evil ways in their lives and failed to earn the forgiveness before their death, would enter the heaven after they receive the return for their evils (M.S.).

Verses 70 - 77

Since God asks to which of His bounties or grace man can deny, it is desirable that the reciter of this Sura, whenever he recites the questioning clause, says ‘La bi shayin min alayka Rabbi na kazzib’, i.e., nothing of any of Thy bounties “O’ Our Lord! do we deny?”11

• 1. Corresponding to true faith and good deeds.
• 2. The description of the heavenly bliss given here or anywhere in the Qur’an is figurative.
• 3. All sorts in praise, corresponding to the various aspects of true faith and good deeds (A.P.). Refer to Verse 13:3.
• 4. Refer to Verses 37:48; 37:49; 44:54; 52:20; 56:22.
• 5. Refer to Verses 99:7; 99:8.
• 6. Refer to Verses 44:54; 52:20; 55:66; 55:72; 56:22.
• 7. Refer to Verses 44:54; 52:20; 56:22. This is a clear indication of virginity, chastity, modesty and seclusion as highly commendable (A.P.).
• 8. These are all figurative expressions of the heavenly bliss. Refer to the previous note on this (A.P.).
• 9. Refer to Verse 99:7.
• 10. Refer to Verse 99:8.
• 11. See Verse 55:56 above and also 37:48, 37:49, 44:54, 52:20 and 56:22.