The Pilgrimage — Verse 24

The Reward of the Believers When Allah tells us about the state of the people of Hell -- we seek refuge with Allah from that state of punishment, vengeance, burning and chains -- and the garments of fire that have been prepared for them, He then tells us about the state of the people of Paradise -- we ask Allah by His grace and kindness to admit us therein. He tells us: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جَنَـتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ (Truly, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous good deeds, to Gardens underneath which rivers flow,) means, these rivers flow throughout its regions, beneath its trees and palaces, and its inhabitants direct them to go wherever they want. يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا (wherein they will be adorned) -- with jewelry -- مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤاً (with bracelets of gold and pearls) means, on their arms, as the Prophet said in the agreed-upon Hadith: «تَبْلُغُ الْحِلْيَةُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ حَيْثُ يَبْلُغُ الْوَضُوء» (The jewelry of the believer in Paradise will reach as far as his Wudu' reached.) وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ (and their garments therein will be of silk. ) in contrast to the garments of fire worn by the inhabitants of Hell, the people of Paradise will have garments of silk, Sundus and Istabraq fine green silk and gold embroidery, as Allah says: عَـلِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ وَحُلُّواْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَـهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَاباً طَهُوراً - إِنَّ هَـذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَآءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُوراً (Their garments will be of green Sundus, and Istabraq. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. (And it will be said to them): "Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been accepted.") 76:21-22. In the Sahih, it says: «لَا تَلْبَسُوا الْحَرِيرَ وَلَا الدِّيبَاجَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَبِسَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَلْبَسْهُ فِي الْآخِرَة» (Do not wear fine silk or gold embroidery in this world, for whoever wears them in this world, will not wear them in the Hereafter.) `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said, "Those who do not wear silk in the Hereafter are those who will not enter Paradise. Allah says: وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ (and their garments therein will be of silk)" وَهُدُواْ إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ (And they are guided unto goodly speech.) This is like the Ayat: وَأُدْخِلَ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَاتِ جَنَّـتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَـمٌ (And those who believed and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow -- to dwell therein forever, with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: "Salam (peace!)") 14:23 جَنَّـتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالمَلَـئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ - سَلَـمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ (And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Salamun `Alaykum (peace be upon you!)", for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!") 13:23-24, لاَ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْواً وَلاَ تَأْثِيماً - إِلاَّ قِيلاً سَلَـماً سَلَـماً (No evil vain talk will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of, "Peace! Peace! (Salaman! Salaman!).") 56:25-26 They will be guided to a place in which they will hear good speech. وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَـماً (Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.) 25:75, unlike the scorn which will be heaped upon the people of Hell by way of rebuke, when they are told: ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ (`Taste the torment of burning!") وَهُدُواْ إِلَى صِرَطِ الْحَمِيدِ (and they are guided to the path of Him Who is Worthy of all praises. ) to a place in which they will give praise to their Lord for all His kindness, blessings and favors towards them, as it says in the Sahih Hadith: «إِنَّهُمْ يُلْهَمُونَ التَّسْبِيحَ وَالتَّحْمِيدَ كَمَا يُلْهَمُونَ النَّفَس» (They will be inspired with words of glorification and praise, just as they are inspired with breath.) Some scholars of Tafsir said that the Ayah, وَهُدُواْ إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ (And they are guided unto goodly speech) refers to the Qur'an; and it was said that it means La ilaha illallah or words of remembrance prescribed in Islam. And the Ayah: وَهُدُواْ إِلَى صِرَطِ الْحَمِيدِ (and they are guided to the path of Him Who is Worthy of all praises.) means, the straight path in this world. These interpretations do not contradict that mentioned above. And Allah knows best.

And they shall be guided in this world to wholesome words namely ‘There is no god except God’ and they shall be guided to the path of the Praised that is to the praiseworthy way of God and His religion.

And they will be guided unto the goodly in speech. It has been said that this is to acknowledge one's sins and attest to His words, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves” [7:23]. True speech and pure words are free of making claims, far from pride, and near to need. They are to attest to one's own incapacity, to acknowledge one's own sins, and to emulate Adam with burning and need in saying “We have wronged ourselves.” Sahl Tustarī said, “I looked at this affair and saw no path closer to God than need, and no veil thicker than making claims.” Look closely at the road of Iblis and you will only see making claims. Look closely at the road of Adam and you will see only need. O Iblis, what do you say? “I am better” [38:76]. O Adam, what do you say? “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” All the existent things were brought out from the concealment of nonexistence into the open space of the decree, but the plant of need grew from Adam's dust. He was made the object to whom the angels prostrated themselves. He was sat down on the throne of kingship and vicege- rency, and the proximate angels were made to stand before his throne, but he did not lose one iota of his need: “O Lord, this is all Your bounty. What is rightfully ours is this: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. The seat of vicegerency is Your bestowal, but the gift of our makeup is Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” A great man said, “One day I sinned. I repented 300,000 times but I still see myself walking in danger from that sin.” You poor wretch! The men of this road waged a war against their own souls. This war will never have a way to peace, for they found that their own souls are the enemy of the religion. How can a man of the religion make peace with the religion's opposite? O soul mean in aspiration and deranged, whatever touchstone I use, you come up false.

And they will be guided unto the goodly in speech. It has been said that this is to acknowledge one's sins and attest to His words, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves” [7:23]. True speech and pure words are free of making claims, far from pride, and near to need. They are to attest to one's own incapacity, to acknowledge one's own sins, and to emulate Adam with burning and need in saying “We have wronged ourselves.” Sahl Tustarī said, “I looked at this affair and saw no path closer to God than need, and no veil thicker than making claims.” Look closely at the road of Iblis and you will only see making claims. Look closely at the road of Adam and you will see only need. O Iblis, what do you say? “I am better” [38:76]. O Adam, what do you say? “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” All the existent things were brought out from the concealment of nonexistence into the open space of the decree, but the plant of need grew from Adam's dust. He was made the object to whom the angels prostrated themselves. He was sat down on the throne of kingship and vicege- rency, and the proximate angels were made to stand before his throne, but he did not lose one iota of his need: “O Lord, this is all Your bounty. What is rightfully ours is this: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. The seat of vicegerency is Your bestowal, but the gift of our makeup is Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” A great man said, “One day I sinned. I repented 300,000 times but I still see myself walking in danger from that sin.” You poor wretch! The men of this road waged a war against their own souls. This war will never have a way to peace, for they found that their own souls are the enemy of the religion. How can a man of the religion make peace with the religion's opposite? O soul mean in aspiration and deranged, whatever touchstone I use, you come up false.

And they will be guided unto the goodly in speech. It has been said that this is to acknowledge one's sins and attest to His words, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves” [7:23]. True speech and pure words are free of making claims, far from pride, and near to need. They are to attest to one's own incapacity, to acknowledge one's own sins, and to emulate Adam with burning and need in saying “We have wronged ourselves.” Sahl Tustarī said, “I looked at this affair and saw no path closer to God than need, and no veil thicker than making claims.” Look closely at the road of Iblis and you will only see making claims. Look closely at the road of Adam and you will see only need. O Iblis, what do you say? “I am better” [38:76]. O Adam, what do you say? “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” All the existent things were brought out from the concealment of nonexistence into the open space of the decree, but the plant of need grew from Adam's dust. He was made the object to whom the angels prostrated themselves. He was sat down on the throne of kingship and vicege- rency, and the proximate angels were made to stand before his throne, but he did not lose one iota of his need: “O Lord, this is all Your bounty. What is rightfully ours is this: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. The seat of vicegerency is Your bestowal, but the gift of our makeup is Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” A great man said, “One day I sinned. I repented 300,000 times but I still see myself walking in danger from that sin.” You poor wretch! The men of this road waged a war against their own souls. This war will never have a way to peace, for they found that their own souls are the enemy of the religion. How can a man of the religion make peace with the religion's opposite? O soul mean in aspiration and deranged, whatever touchstone I use, you come up false.

And they will be guided unto the goodly in speech. It has been said that this is to acknowledge one's sins and attest to His words, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves” [7:23]. True speech and pure words are free of making claims, far from pride, and near to need. They are to attest to one's own incapacity, to acknowledge one's own sins, and to emulate Adam with burning and need in saying “We have wronged ourselves.” Sahl Tustarī said, “I looked at this affair and saw no path closer to God than need, and no veil thicker than making claims.” Look closely at the road of Iblis and you will only see making claims. Look closely at the road of Adam and you will see only need. O Iblis, what do you say? “I am better” [38:76]. O Adam, what do you say? “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” All the existent things were brought out from the concealment of nonexistence into the open space of the decree, but the plant of need grew from Adam's dust. He was made the object to whom the angels prostrated themselves. He was sat down on the throne of kingship and vicege- rency, and the proximate angels were made to stand before his throne, but he did not lose one iota of his need: “O Lord, this is all Your bounty. What is rightfully ours is this: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. The seat of vicegerency is Your bestowal, but the gift of our makeup is Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.” A great man said, “One day I sinned. I repented 300,000 times but I still see myself walking in danger from that sin.” You poor wretch! The men of this road waged a war against their own souls. This war will never have a way to peace, for they found that their own souls are the enemy of the religion. How can a man of the religion make peace with the religion's opposite? O soul mean in aspiration and deranged, whatever touchstone I use, you come up false.

And they will be guided unto the goodly in speech.It has been said that this is to acknowledge one's sins and attest to His words, �Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves� [7:23].True speech and pure words are free of making claims, far from pride, and near to need. They are to attest to one's own incapacity, to acknowledge one's own sins, and to emulate Adam with burning and need in saying �We have wronged ourselves.�Sahl Tustarī said, �I looked at this affair and saw no path closer to God than need, and no veil thicker than making claims.�Look closely at the road of Iblis and you will only see making claims. Look closely at the road of Adam and you will see only need. O Iblis, what do you say? �I am better� [38:76]. O Adam, what do you say? �Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.�All the existent things were brought out from the concealment of nonexistence into the open space of the decree, but the plant of need grew from Adam's dust. He was made the object to whom the angels prostrated themselves. He was sat down on the throne of kingship and vicege- rency, and the proximate angels were made to stand before his throne, but he did not lose one iota of his need: �O Lord, this is all Your bounty. What is rightfully ours is this: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. The seat of vicegerency is Your bestowal, but the gift of our makeup is Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.�A great man said, �One day I sinned. I repented 300,000 times but I still see myself walking in danger from that sin.�You poor wretch! The men of this road waged a war against their own souls. This war will never have a way to peace, for they found that their own souls are the enemy of the religion. How can a man of the religion make peace with the religion's opposite?O soul mean in aspiration and deranged,whatever touchstone I use, you come up false.

لقد هداهم الله في الدنيا إلى طيب القول: من كلمة التوحيد وحَمْد الله والثناء عليه، وفي الآخرة إلى حمده على حسن العاقبة، كما هداهم من قبل إلى طريق الإسلام المحمود الموصل إلى الجنة.

وقوله " وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول " كقوله تعالى " وأدخل الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات جنات تجري من تحتها الأنهار خالدين فيها بإذن ربهم تحيتهم فيها سلام " وقوله " والملائكة يدخلون عليهم من كل باب سلام عليكم بما صبرتم فنعم عقبى الدار " وقوله " لا يسمعون فيها لغوا ولا تأثيما إلا قيلا سلاما سلاما " فهدوا إلى المكان الذي يسمعون فيه الكلام الطيب وقوله " ويلقون فيها تحية وسلاما " لا كما يهان أهل النار بالكلام الذي يوبخون به ويقرعون به يقال لهم " ذوقوا عذاب الحريق " وقوله " وهدوا إلى صراط الحميد " أي إلى المكان الذي يحمدون فيه ربهم على ما أحسن إليهم وأنعم به وأسداه إليهم كما جاء في الحديث الصحيح " إنهم يلهمون التسبيح والتحميد كما يلهمون النفس " وقد قال بعض المفسرين في قوله " وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول " أي القرآن وقيل لا إله إلا الله وقيل الأذكار المشروعة " وهدوا إلى صراط الحميد " أي الطريق المستقيم في الدنيا وكل هذا لا ينافي ما ذكرناه والله أعلم.

وقوله - تعالى - : ( وهدوا إِلَى الطيب مِنَ القول وهدوا إلى صِرَاطِ الحميد ) بيان لحسن خاتمتهم ، ولعظم النعم التى أنعم الله بها عليهم .أى : وهدى الله - تعالى - هؤلاء المؤمنين إلى القول الطيب الذى يرضى الله - تعالى - عنهم ، كأن يقولون عند دخولهم الجنة : ( . . . الحمد للَّهِ الذي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الحزن إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ الذي أَحَلَّنَا دَارَ المقامة مِن فَضْلِهِ لاَ يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَلاَ يَمَسُّنَا فِيهَا لُغُوبٌ ) وهداهم - أيضا - خالقهم إلى الصراط المحمود ، وهو صراط الذين أنعم الله عليهم بنعمة الإيمان والإسلام ، فصاروا بسبب هذه النعمة يقولون الأقوال الطيبة ، ويفعلون الأفعال الحميدة .قال الشوكانى : قوله : ( وهدوا إِلَى الطيب مِنَ القول . . . ) أى : أرشدوا إليه . قيل : هو لا إله إلا الله . وقيل : القرآن . وقيل : هو ما يأتيهم من الله من بشارات . وقد ورد فى القرآن ما يدل على هذا القول المجمل هنا ، وهو قوله - سبحانه - : ( الحمد للَّهِ الذي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ . . ) ( الحمد للَّهِ الذي هَدَانَا لهذا . . ) ( الحمد للَّهِ الذي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الحزن . . ) ومعنى : ( وهدوا إلى صِرَاطِ الحميد ) أنهم أرشدوا إلى الصراط المحمود وهو طريق الجنة ، أو صراط الله الذى هو دينه القويم وهو الإسلام .

قوله: ( وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: وهداهم ربهم في الدنيا إلى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله.كما حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال: ابن زيد، في قوله: ( وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ ) قال: هدوا إلى الكلام الطيب: لا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، والحمد لله ؛ قال الله: إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ .حدثنا عليّ، قال: ثنا عبد الله، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس: ( وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ ) قال: ألهموا.وقوله: ( وَهُدُوا إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْحَمِيدِ ) يقول جلّ ثناؤه: وهداهم ربهم في الدنيا إلى طريق الربّ الحميد، وطريقه: دينه دين الإسلام الذي شرعه لخلقه وأمرهم أن يسلكوه؛ والحميد: فعيل، صرّف من مفعول إليه، ومعناه: أنه محمود عند أوليائه من خلقه، ثم صرّف من محمود إلى حميد.

قوله عز وجل : ( وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول ) قال ابن عباس : هو شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله . وقال ابن زيد : لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر والحمد لله وسبحان الله . وقال السدي : أي القرآن . وقيل هو قول أهل الجنة : الحمد لله الذي صدقنا وعده ( الزمر : 74 ( وهدوا إلى صراط الحميد ) إلى دين الله وهو الإسلام " والحميد " هو الله المحمود في أفعاله

وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَهُدُوا إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْحَمِيدِ (24)ومعنى { وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول } أن الله يرشدهم إلى أقوال ، أي يُلهمهم أقوالاً حسنة يقولونها بينهم ، وقد ذُكر بعضها في قوله تعالى : { دعواهم فيها سبحانك اللهم وتحيتهم فيها سلام وآخر دعواهم أن الحمد لله رب العالمين } [ يونس : 10 ] وفي قوله : { وقالوا الحمد لله الذي صدقنا وعده وأورثنا الأرض نتبوأ من الجنة حيث نشاء فنعم أجر العاملين }[ الزمر : 74 ].ويجوز أن يكون المعنى : أنهم يرشدون إلى أماكن يسمعون فيها أقوالاً طيبة . وهو معنى قوله تعالى : { والملائكة يدخلون عليهم من كل باب سلام عليكم بما صبرتم فنعم عقبى الدار } [ الرعد : 24 ]. وهذا أشد مناسبة بمقابلة مما يسمعه أهل النار في قوله : { وذوقوا عذاب الحريق } [ الحج : 22 ].وجملة { وهدوا إلى صراط الحميد } معترضة في آخر الكلام ، والواو للاعتراض ، هي كالتكملة لوصف حسن حالهم لمناسبة ذكر الهداية في قوله : { وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول } ، ولم يسبق مقابل لمضمون هذه الجملة بالنسبة لأحوال الكافرين وسيجيء ذكر مقابلها في قوله : { إن الذين كفروا ويصدون عن سبيل الله } إلى قوله : { نذقه من عذاب أليم } [ الحج : 25 ] وذلك من أفانين المقابلة . والمعنى : وقد هُدُوا إلى صراط الحميد في الدنيا ، وهو دين الإسلام ، شبه بالصراط لأنه موصل إلى رضى الله .والحميد من أسماء الله تعالى ، أي المحمود كثيراً فهو فعيل بمعنى مفعول ، فإضافة { صراط } إلى اسم «الله» لتعريف أيّ صراط هو . ويجوز أن يكون { الحميد } صفة ل { صراط ، } أي المحمود لسالكه . فإضافة صراط إليه من إضافة الموصوف إلى الصفة ، والصراط المحمود هو صراط دين الله . وفي هذه الجملة إيماء إلى سبب استحقاق تلك النعم أنه الهداية السابقة إلى دين الله في الحياة الدنيا .

{ هُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ } الذي أفضله وأطيبه كلمة الإخلاص، ثم سائر الأقوال الطيبة التي فيها ذكر الله، أو إحسان إلى عباد الله، { وَهُدُوا إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْحَمِيدِ } أي: الصراط المحمود، وذلك، لأن جميع الشرع كله محتو على الحكمة والحمد، وحسن المأمور به، وقبح المنهي عنه، وهو الدين الذي لا إفراط فيه ولا تفريط، المشتمل على العلم النافع والعمل الصالح. أو: وهدوا إلى صراط الله الحميد، لأن الله كثيرا ما يضيف الصراط إليه، لأنه يوصل صاحبه إلى الله، وفي ذكر { الحميد } هنا، ليبين أنهم نالوا الهداية بحمد ربهم ومنته عليهم، ولهذا يقولون في الجنة: { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ } واعترض تعالى بين هذه الآيات بذكر سجود المخلوقات له، جميع من في السماوات والأرض، والشمس، والقمر، والنجوم، والجبال، والشجر، والدواب، الذي يشمل الحيوانات كلها، وكثير من الناس، وهم المؤمنون، { وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ } أي: وجب وكتب، لكفره وعدم إيمانه، فلم يوفقه للإيمان، لأن الله أهانه، { وَمَنْ يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ مُكْرِمٍ } ولا راد لما أراد، ولا معارض لمشيئته، فإذا كانت المخلوقات كلها ساجدة لربها، خاضعة لعظمته، مستكينة لعزته، عانية لسلطانه، دل على أنه وحده، الرب المعبود، والملك المحمود، وأن من عدل عنه إلى عبادة سواه، فقد ضل ضلالا بعيدا، وخسر خسرانا مبينا.

قوله تعالى : وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول وهدوا إلى صراط الحميدقوله تعالى : وهدوا إلى الطيب من القول أي أرشدوا إلى ذلك . قال ابن عباس : يريد لا إله إلا الله والحمد لله . وقيل : القرآن ، ثم قيل : هذا في الدنيا ، هدوا إلى الشهادة ، وقراءة القرآن . وهدوا إلى صراط الحميد أي إلى صراط الله . وصراط الله : دينه وهو الإسلام . وقيل : هدوا في الآخرة إلى الطيب من القول ، وهو الحمد لله ؛ لأنهم يقولون غدا الحمد لله الذي هدانا لهذا ، الحمد لله الذي أذهب عنا الحزن ؛ فليس في الجنة لغو ولا كذب فما يقولونه فهو طيب القول . وقد هدوا في الجنة إلى صراط الله ، إذ ليس في الجنة شيء من مخالفة أمر الله . وقيل : الطيب من القول ما يأتيهم من الله من البشارات الحسنة . وهدوا إلى صراط الحميد أي إلى طريق الجنة .

In this world where the net of deceptive words is spread out everywhere and where people far away from Truth enjoy the position of dominance, it is undoubtedly the most difficult task to discover and recognise the truth of Faith; and it is even more difficult in practice to put oneself on the path of this faith. Those who have been endowed with the ability to recognise and sift the noblest of words from the medley of senseless sounds, are the ones who will seek out the right path from a labyrinth of different paths. Those who show such great ability in this world are the cream of humanity. They deserve to be given an abode in the eternal gardens of paradise.

وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ (And guided they were to the good word (of faith) - 22:24) Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that this refers to the Kalimah tayyibah لا إله إلا اللہ . Some others say that it means Qur'an. (Qurtubi) As a matter of fact it includes all these things in its meaning.

(They are guided unto gentle speech) they were guided in this worldly life to say: there is no deity except Allah; (they are guided unto the path of the Glorious One) and they were guided to the praiseworthy religion. This is Allah's judgement regarding the dispute between the believers, the Jews and the Christians.