Transliteration:( Wa naza'naa maa fee sudoorihim min ghillin tajree min tahtihimul anhaaru wa qaalul hamdu lillaahil lazee hadaanaa lihaaza wa maa kunna linahtadiya law laaa ann hadaanal laahu laqad jaaa'at Rusulu Rabbinaa bilhaqq; wa noodoo an tilkumul jannnatu ooristumoohaa bimaa kuntum ta'maloon )
96. Reason for its Revelation:
It is reported in SAWAIQE MUHARRIQAH that this verse was revealed in favour of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him). Allah Almighty had cleansed his heart from malice towards anyone. Hazrat Alli Murtaza (May Allah be pleased with) says that this verse was revealed concerning those who participated in the Battle of Badr which included Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Uthman, Hazrat Talha (May Allah be pleased with them). In any case, it cuts off the root of the Rafzi sect.
97. By this it means Allah Almighty gave us guidance to hold such good beliefs and do such good deeds in the world which has blessed us to this position. From this we learn that opportunity to express gratitude to Allah Almighty and singing His praises would be provided in Paradise as well. But other acts of worship like Salaah, Saum, Hajj, Zakaat, Jihad, etc. would have ceased by then. We further know guidance is not received due to one's strength, knowledge or worships. This is a special Bounty bestowed upon a person. If worship is a criterion for this, then Satan would have been a staunch believer, because all those qualities were present in him.
98. The believers had accepted guidance after listening to its verification from Allah Almighty's Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, while the observation of Paradise they would make through their visual confirmation.
99. Paradise has been declared one's legacy or property for two reasons:
1. They will inherit Paradise which would have been the property of the infidels, just as Hell would become the property of the infidels which would have been the legacy of the believers.
2. Paradise would be obtained through the Bounty and Blessing of Allah Almighty and not through one's personal ability. Just as one inherits wealth through blood relations, good deeds too became a means of inheriting Paradise.
Â
The tafsir of Surah Al-A’raf verse 43 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah A’raf ayat 42 which provides the complete commentary from verse 42 through 43.
32. If there develops any rancour or ill-will among good people during the course of their worldly lives, such rancour and will be removed in the Hereafter. Their hearts will be purged of all hostile feelings and they will enter Paradise as cordial friends. They will not feel envious towards those who had formerly been opposed or hostile to them that they share with them the bounties of Paradise. Significantly, ‘Ali once recited this very verse and remarked: ‘I wish that I and ‘Uthman and Talhah and al-Zubayr will be among those about whom God has said: “And We shall take away all rancour from their heartsâ€â€˜ (Surah Al-Aaraf, ayat 43). (See Qurtubi’s comments on verse 43 – Ed.)
Reflection on the verse leads one to conclude that out of His mercy, God will first purge the righteous of their blemishes. This will be done before admitting them to Paradise. Thus they will enter Paradise in a state of untainted purity.
33. This refers to something of a fine and delicate character that will take place in Paradise. Instead of boasting about their virtuous deeds which led them to Paradise, the righteous will thank and praise God profusely and acknowledge His grace and mercy without which they could never have entered Paradise. On the other hand, God will not impress His bounty upon the righteous; He will rather emphasize that Paradise is granted to them by way of compensation for their righteous conduct, that it is the fruit of their hard labour; that it is not like the crumbs of charity but a fair recompense for their striving. The subtlety involved here is further brought into relief by the fact that the above response will not be made by God. It will rather be just announced to them.
What is said above about the Hereafter may be discerned in the attitude of the righteous in the world itself. The wicked and arrogant ones take great pride in their worldly attainments and ascribe them to their own efforts. They firmly, believe that what they have achieved is the fruit of their labour. Swaved by such notions, they continue to act even more haughtily. Conversely the righteous look upon all the bounties which they receive as favours from God. Accordingly, they thank and praise Him out of gratitude. The more they are lavished with worldly favours, the more humble and generous they become. Moreover, they do not suffer from the illusion that their righteousness will certainly earn them their salvation. On the contrary, they consistently repent over their lapses and earnestly turn to God in the hope that He will pardon them out of His grace and mercy. They are always fearful of God’s reckoning lest their evil deeds are found to outweigh their good deeds. According to a tradition the Prophet (peace he on him) said: ‘Know well that none will he able to enter Paradise by dint of his good deeds.’ When asked if that would apply to him as well, the Prophet (peace he on him) replied: ‘Yes, in my case as well; unless God covers me with His mercy and favour.’ (Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq, ‘Bab al-Qasd wa a Mudawamah ala al-Amal’ – Ed.)
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics