Tafsir of Surah Sad - Verse 53

The Final Return of the Blessed

Allah tells us that His blessed, believing servants will have a good final return in the Hereafter, which means their ultimate destination. Then He explains it further, as He says:

جَنَّـتِ عَدْنٍ

(`Adn Gardens) meaning, eternal gardens (of Paradise),

مُّفَتَّحَةً لَّهُمُ الاٌّبْوَابُ

(whose doors will be opened for them.) means, when they come to them (these gardens), their gates will open for them.

مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا

(Therein they will recline;) It was said that this means that they will sit cross-legged on chairs beneath canopies.

يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَـكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ

(therein they will call for fruits in abundance) means, whatever they ask for, they will find it, and it will be prepared just as they wanted it.

وَشَرَابٌ

(and drinks;) means, whatever kind of drink they want, the servants will bring it to them,

بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ

(With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine.) (56: 18).

وَعِندَهُمْ قَـصِرَتُ الطَّرْفِ

(And beside them will be Qasirat-at-Tarf (chaste females)) means, they restrain their glances from anyone except their husbands, and do not turn to anyone else.

أَتْرَابٌ

((and) of equal ages.) means, they will all be of the same age. This is the understanding of Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka`b and As-Suddi.

هَـذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ

(This it is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning!) means, `this that We have mentioned of the features of Paradise is what He has prepared for His pious servants who will reach it after they have been resurrected from their graves and been saved from the Fire.' Then Allah tells us that Paradise will never come to an end or disappear or cease to be. He says:

إِنَّ هَـذَا لَرِزْقُنَا مَا لَهُ مِن نَّفَادٍ

(Verily, this is Our provision which will never finish.) This is like the Ayat:

مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ

(Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah will remain) (16:96).

عَطَآءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ

(a gift without an end.) (11:108)

لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ

(for them is a reward that will never come to an end.) (84:25).

أُكُلُهَا دَآئِمٌ وِظِلُّهَا تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ وَّعُقْبَى الْكَـفِرِينَ النَّارُ

(its provision is eternal and so is its shade; this is the end of those who have Taqwa, and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire.)(13:35). And there are many similar Ayat.

In verse 52, it was said: وَعِندَهُمْ قَاصِرَ‌اتُ الطَّرْ‌فِ أَتْرَ‌ابٌ (and in their company there will be females restricting their glances ] to their husbands, and[ of matching ages.). Meant by these are the Hurs or Houris of Jannah (referred to, fondly enough for some people, even as 'nymphs of Paradise' ). Being of matching ages could mean that they will be of the same age as among themselves. And it could also mean that they will be of the same age as their spouses. In the first situation, if they were of the same age, the good thing. about it would be that they would be relating to each other in mutual amity as friends, and not as 'the other woman' something very welcome for spouses.

Consideration of matching age between spouses is better

Then there is the other situation. If being of the same age is taken to mean that spouses will be of the same age, the good thing about it would be that there would be temperamental harmony between them, and they will have consideration for each other's preferences. This tells us that consideration should be made to keep ages of spouses matched, for it generates mutual love, and makes the relationship of marriage pleasant and permanent.

Paradise will be for those servants of God who submit to Him while He is invisible. They will be the fortunate ones who will relish the everlasting joy of the Hereafter. The blessings bestowed upon men in the Hereafter will be of the same nature as those confered in this world. Yet there will be a tremendous difference between these two forms of divine grace. In this world, favours are given for the time being and in a rudimentary form whereas, in the Hereafter, these favours will be given forever and in their ultimate form. God will banish all kinds of fear in the Hereafter, which is not possible in the present world.