Tafsir of Surah Al-Ghashiyah - Verse 12

The Condition of the People of Paradise on the Day of Judgement

After mentioning the situation of the wretched people, Allah changes the discussion to mention those who will be happy. He says,

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ

(Faces that Day.) meaning, on the Day of Judgement.

نَّاعِمَةٌ

(will be joyful,) meaning, pleasure will be noticeable in them (those faces). This will only occur due to their striving. Sufyan said,

لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ

(Glad with their endeavor.) "They will be pleased with their deeds." Then Allah says,

فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ

(In a lofty Paradise.) meaning, elevated and brilliant, secure in their dwellings.

لاَّ تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَـغِيَةً

(Where they shall neither hear harmful speech nor falsehood.) meaning, they will not hear in the Paradise that they will be in, any foolish word. This is as Allah says,

لاَّ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْواً إِلاَّ سَلَـماً

(They shall not hear therein any Laghw, but only Salam.) (19:62) Allah also says,

لاَّ لَغْوٌ فِيهَا وَلاَ تَأْثِيمٌ

(Free from any Laghw, and free from sin.) (52:23) and He says,

لاَ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْواً وَلاَ تَأْثِيماً - إِلاَّ قِيلاً سَلَـماً سَلَـماً

(No Laghw will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of: "Salam! Salam!" ) (56:25-26) Then Allah continues,

فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ

(Therein will be a running spring.) meaning, flowing freely. This is mentioned with the intent of emphasizing affirmation. It is not intended to mean that there is only one spring. So here it refers to springs collectively. Thus, the meaning is that in it (Paradise) are flowing springs. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ تَفَجَّرُ مِنْ تَحْتِ تِلَالِ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ جِبَالِ الْمِسْك»

(The rivers of Paradise spring forth from beneath hills -- or mountains -- of musk.)

فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَّرْفُوعَةٌ

(Therein will be thrones raised high.) meaning, lofty, delightful, numerous couches, with elevated ceilings. Upon which will be seated wide-eyed, beautiful maidens. They have mentioned that whenever the friend of Allah wishes to sit on these lofty thrones, they (the thrones) will lower themselves for him.

وَأَكْوَابٌ مَّوْضُوعَةٌ

(And cups set at hand.) meaning, drinking containers that are prepared and presented for whoever among their masters (i.e., the people of Paradise) wants them.

وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ

(And Namariq set in rows.) Ibn `Abbas said, "An-Namariq are pillows." This was also said by `Ikrimah, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri and others. Concerning Allah's statement,

وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ

(And Zarabi, spread out (Mabthuthah).) Ibn `Abbas said, "Az-Zarabi are carpets." This was also said by Ad-Dahhak and others. Here the word Mabthuthah means placed here and there for whoever would like to sit upon them.

لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً (in which they will not hear any absurd talk...88:11). It includes the words of disbelief, futile or idle talk, obscene language, calumny or false accusation, or any other talk that hurts people's feelings. On another occasion, the Qur'an puts it thus:

لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا

'They will hear neither an absurd talk therein, nor something leading to sin, [ 56:25]

This shows that false accusation and absurd talks are hurtful. That is why the Holy Qur'an has described it as a blessing to the inmates of Paradise that no such foolish words will come across their ears that may pollute their hearts.

Man observes that a serviceable animal like the camel is obedient to him. The sky in all its majesty is well disposed towards him. The earth, without any effort on our part, is subservient to our interests. All these phenomena remind a thoughtful man of God and the Hereafter. Those who derive the nourishment of remembrance from these arrangements of the world have established their entitlement to God’s eternal bounties, while those who have remained lost in forgetfulness and neglect, have proved that they deserve to be deprived of every kind of bounty—forever.