As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 43, Az-Zukhruf or the Golden Adornments, verses 68-78. These verses describe a scene from Heaven and a separate scene from Hell.
Tafseer for this selection concerns the descriptions of the gardens of Heaven and its delights.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.“O My devotees! Today you have nothing to fear or to regret,”[68] it will be said to those who believed in Our revelations and became Muslims,[69] “Enter paradise, you and your spouses; you will be made happy.”[70] There they shall be served with golden dishes and golden goblets, and they shall have everything that their souls can desire and all that their eyes can delight in – and it will be said to them: “Now you shall abide therein forever.[71] You have inherited this paradise by virtue of your good deeds.[72] therein you shall have plenty of fruit to eat.”[73] 43:[68-73]
But the criminals will abide in the punishment of hell.[74] Their punishment will never be lightened, and they shall remain in despair therein.[75] We did not wrong them, but it is they who wronged themselves.[76] They will cry: “O Mãlik (the keeper of hell)! Let your Lord put an end to us.” But he will answer: “Nay! You are going to live forever.”[77] We have brought you the truth, but most of you hate the truth.[78] 43:[74-78]
Ameen.
Tafseer
On the descriptions of Heaven in verses 70-73:
The Garden is the type of all that is beautiful to eye, mind, and soul; all that is restful and in tun, a complete state of bliss, such as we can scarcely conceive of in this troubled world. Several metaphors indicate how we can try to picture that bliss to ourselves in ‘this muddy vesture of decay’.
We shall have our near and ear ones (‘wives’) with us: perfected Love will not be content with Self, but like a note of music will find its melody in communion with others. The richest and most beautiful vessels will minister to our purified desires, and give complete and eternal satisfaction to our souls in every way.
We shall be there, not as strangers, or temporary guests, but as heirs – made heirs in eternity because of the good lives we had led on earth.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.