The Event, The Inevitable, That Which is Coming — Verse 88

Thus if he the dead person be of those brought near

If he is one of those brought near, then repose and ease and a garden of bliss. One of the great ones of the religion said that repose and ease will be both in this world and in the afterworld. The repose is in this world and the ease will be in the afterworld. The repose is that He adorns the heart of the faithful servants with His gaze so that they will discern truth from falsehood. Then He makes them wide in knowledge so that they will find there the vision of His power. Then He makes them seeing so that they will have the light to see His favors. He makes them hearing so that they will listen to the beginningless advice. He makes them pure so that they will seek only His companionship. He makes them happy with the fragrance of union so that their love for the Friend will grow. He makes them bright with His light so that they will gaze from Him to Him. He scours them with the file of solicitude so that they will see Him wherever they look. When the servants go to the house of felicity with these attributes, they will see the ease of generosity. The breeze of intimacy will be blowing, the seat of approval will be set up under the tree of finding, the carpet of intimacy will be spread, the candle of compassion lit. The servants will sit like kings and the beginningless Friend will lift up the curtain, greeting their ears with “peace” and showing the vision of the Possessor of Majesty:

If he is one of those brought near, then repose and ease and a garden of bliss. One of the great ones of the religion said that repose and ease will be both in this world and in the afterworld. The repose is in this world and the ease will be in the afterworld. The repose is that He adorns the heart of the faithful servants with His gaze so that they will discern truth from falsehood. Then He makes them wide in knowledge so that they will find there the vision of His power. Then He makes them seeing so that they will have the light to see His favors. He makes them hearing so that they will listen to the beginningless advice. He makes them pure so that they will seek only His companionship. He makes them happy with the fragrance of union so that their love for the Friend will grow. He makes them bright with His light so that they will gaze from Him to Him. He scours them with the file of solicitude so that they will see Him wherever they look. When the servants go to the house of felicity with these attributes, they will see the ease of generosity. The breeze of intimacy will be blowing, the seat of approval will be set up under the tree of finding, the carpet of intimacy will be spread, the candle of compassion lit. The servants will sit like kings and the beginningless Friend will lift up the curtain, greeting their ears with “peace” and showing the vision of the Possessor of Majesty:

If he is one of those brought near, then repose and ease and a garden of bliss. One of the great ones of the religion said that repose and ease will be both in this world and in the afterworld. The repose is in this world and the ease will be in the afterworld. The repose is that He adorns the heart of the faithful servants with His gaze so that they will discern truth from falsehood. Then He makes them wide in knowledge so that they will find there the vision of His power. Then He makes them seeing so that they will have the light to see His favors. He makes them hearing so that they will listen to the beginningless advice. He makes them pure so that they will seek only His companionship. He makes them happy with the fragrance of union so that their love for the Friend will grow. He makes them bright with His light so that they will gaze from Him to Him. He scours them with the file of solicitude so that they will see Him wherever they look. When the servants go to the house of felicity with these attributes, they will see the ease of generosity. The breeze of intimacy will be blowing, the seat of approval will be set up under the tree of finding, the carpet of intimacy will be spread, the candle of compassion lit. The servants will sit like kings and the beginningless Friend will lift up the curtain, greeting their ears with “peace” and showing the vision of the Possessor of Majesty:

If he is one of those brought near, then repose and ease and a garden of bliss. One of the great ones of the religion said that repose and ease will be both in this world and in the afterworld. The repose is in this world and the ease will be in the afterworld. The repose is that He adorns the heart of the faithful servants with His gaze so that they will discern truth from falsehood. Then He makes them wide in knowledge so that they will find there the vision of His power. Then He makes them seeing so that they will have the light to see His favors. He makes them hearing so that they will listen to the beginningless advice. He makes them pure so that they will seek only His companionship. He makes them happy with the fragrance of union so that their love for the Friend will grow. He makes them bright with His light so that they will gaze from Him to Him. He scours them with the file of solicitude so that they will see Him wherever they look. When the servants go to the house of felicity with these attributes, they will see the ease of generosity. The breeze of intimacy will be blowing, the seat of approval will be set up under the tree of finding, the carpet of intimacy will be spread, the candle of compassion lit. The servants will sit like kings and the beginningless Friend will lift up the curtain, greeting their ears with “peace” and showing the vision of the Possessor of Majesty:

If he is one of those brought near, then repose and ease and a garden of bliss.One of the great ones of the religion said that repose and ease will be both in this world and in the afterworld. The repose is in this world and the ease will be in the afterworld. The repose is that He adorns the heart of the faithful servants with His gaze so that they will discern truth from falsehood. Then He makes them wide in knowledge so that they will find there the vision of His power. Then He makes them seeing so that they will have the light to see His favors. He makes them hearing so that they will listen to the beginningless advice. He makes them pure so that they will seek only His companionship. He makes them happy with the fragrance of union so that their love for the Friend will grow. He makes them bright with His light so that they will gaze from Him to Him. He scours them with the file of solicitude so that they will see Him wherever they look.When the servants go to the house of felicity with these attributes, they will see the ease of generosity. The breeze of intimacy will be blowing, the seat of approval will be set up under the tree of finding, the carpet of intimacy will be spread, the candle of compassion lit. The servants will sit like kings and the beginningless Friend will lift up the curtain, greeting their ears with �peace� and showing the vision of the Possessor of Majesty:

فأما إن كان الميت من السابقين المقربين، فله عند موته الرحمة الواسعة والفرح وما تطيب به نفسه، وله جنة النعيم في الآخرة.

هذه الأحوال الثلاثة هي أحوال الناس عند احتضارهم إما أن يكون من المقربين أو يكون ممن دونهم من أصحاب اليمين وإما أن يكون من المكذبين بالحق الضالين عن الهدى الجاهلين بأمر الله ولهذا قال تعالى "فأما إن كان" أي المحتضر "من المقربين" وهم الذين فعلوا الواجبات والمستحبات وتركوا المحرمات والمكروهات وبعض المباحات.

ثم تمضى السورة الكريمة بعد ذلك ، فى بيان مصير هذه الروح ، التى توشك أن تستدبر الحياة الفانية ، وتستقبل الحياة الباقية فتقول : ( فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ المقربين فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ ) .والروح : بمعنى الراحة والأمان والاطمئنان والريحان شجر طيب الرائحة .أى : فأما إن كان صاحب هذه النفس التى فارقت الدنيا ، من المقربين إلينا السابقين بالخيرات . . . فله عندنا راحة لا تقاربها راحة ، وله رحمة واسعة ، وله طيب رائحة عند قبض روحه ، وعند نزوله فى قبره ، وعند وقوله بين أيدينا للحساب يوم الدين ، وله جنات ينعم فيها بما لا عين رأت ، ولا أذن سمعت ، ولا خطر على قلب بشر .

وقوله: ( فَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ * فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: فأما إن كان الميت من المقرّبين الذين قرّبهم الله من جواره في جنانه ( فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ ) يقول: فله روح وريحان.واختلف القرّاء في قراءة ذلك، فقرأته عامة قرّاء الأمصار ( فَرَوْحٌ ) بفتح الراء، بمعنى: فله برد.( وَرَيْحَانٌ ) يقول: ورزق واسع في قول بعضهم، وفي قول آخرين فله راحة وريحان وقرأ ذلك الحسن البصريّ( فَرُوحٌ ) بضم الراء، بمعنى: أن روحه تخرج في ريحانة.وأولى القراءتين في ذلك بالصواب قراءة من قرأه بالفتح لإجماع الحجة من القرّاء عليه، بمعنى: فله الرحمة والمغفرة، والرزق الطيب الهنيّ.

ثم ذكر طبقات الخلق عند الموت وبين درجاتهم فقال : ( فأما إن كان من المقربين ( فأما إن كان من المقربين ) وهم السابقون .

فَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ (88(لما اقتضى الكلام بحذافره أن الإِنسان صاحب الروح صائر إلى الجزاء فرع عليه إجمال أحوال الجزاء في مراتب الناس إجمالاً لما سبق تفصيله بقوله : { وكنتم أزواجاً ثلاثة إلى قوله : لا بارد ولا كريم } [ الواقعة : 7 44 ] ليكون هذا فذلكة للسورة وردّاً لعجزها على صدرها .فضمير { إن كان } عائد إلى ما عاد إليه ضمير { إليه } من قوله : { ونحن أقرب إليه منكم } [ الواقعة : 85 ] .والمقربون هم السابقون الذين تقدم ذكرهم في قوله تعالى : { والسابقون السابقون أولئك المقربون } [ الواقعة : 85 ] وأصحاب اليمين قد تقدم والمكذبون الضالون : هم أصحاب الشمال المتقدم ذكرهم .وقد ذكر لكل صنف من هؤلاء جزاء لم يُذكر له فيما تقدم ليضم إلى ما أعدّ له فيما تقدم على طريقة القرآن في توزيع القصة .والرَّوْح : بفتح الراء في قراءة الجمهور ، وهو الراحة ، أي فرَوْح له ، أي هو في راحة ونعيم ، وتقدم في قوله : { ولا تيأسوا من روح الله } في سورة يوسف ( 87 ( . وقرأه رويس عن يعقوب بضم الراء . ورويت هذه القراءة عن عائشة عن النبي عند أبي داود والترمذي والنسائي ، أي أن رسول الله روي عنه الوجهان ، فالمشهور روي متواتراً ، والآخر روي متواتراً وبالآحاد ، وكلاهما مراد .ومعنى الآية على قراءة ضم الراء : أن روحه معها الريحان وهو الطيب وجنة النعيم . وقد ورد في حديث آخر : أن رُوح المؤمن تخرج طيبة .

ذكر الله تعالى أحوال الطوائف الثلاث: المقربين، وأصحاب اليمين، والمكذبين الضالين، في أول السورة في دار القرار.ثم ذكر أحوالهم في آخرها عند الاحتضار والموت، فقال: { فَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ } الميت { مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ } وهم الذين أدوا الواجبات والمستحبات، وتركوا المحرمات والمكروهات وفضول المباحات.

قوله تعالى : فأما إن كان من المقربين ذكر طبقات الخلق عند الموت وعند البعث ، وبين درجاتهم فقال : فأما إن كان هذا المتوفى من المقربين وهم السابقون .

The event of death is the last proof of the fact that man is completely helpless before the Divine powers. Every man will essentially die at a fixed time and nobody can save him from the angel of death. In view of this, man should be more concerned about his condition after death. Those who performed deeds deserving of paradise in their life before death, will be ushered into paradise in the life after death. However, those who shunned God in this world will be denied God’s grace in the Hereafter. They will be greeted with scalding water and the fire will be their abode.

فَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّ‌بِينَ (So, in case he [ the dying person ] is from among those blessed with nearness...56:88). In the foregoing verses, it was made clear that one day the present world will come to an end. It was also testified that at the time of death the near and dear ones, friends and relatives, and doctors all stand helplessly around the dying person. Likewise, resurrection, reckoning, and reward and punishment, after account of deeds, are all a reality and certainty of the highest degree. At the commencement of the Surah, it was mentioned that there will be three categories of the people in regard to their reward or punishment. The gist of this subject is again summarized here. If the dying person is among the Foremost believers, he will experience comfort, fragrance of happiness and a Garden of bliss. If he is not from the Foremost, but from the People of the Right hand, i.e. from the general body of believers, he will also experience the bounties and pleasures of Paradise. But if he is one of the People of the Left hand, the deniers and the deviant ones, then he will be in the blazing fire of Hell where he will be served with boiling water to drink.

(Thus if he is of those brought nigh) to the Garden of Eden,

Thus if he be of those brought near,By which is meant the prophets, the martyrs and the virtuous (ṣāliḥūn), of whom some are superior in rank to others. Their stations in nearness [to God] are according to the degree of proximity of their hearts to the gnosis (maʿrifa) of God, Exalted is He.

The Condition of People at the Time of Their Death These are the three types of conditions that people face upon their death. Either they are among the near believers or those below their rank on the right, or those who denied the truth, were led astray from the guidance and were ignorant about Allah. Allah said, فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ (Then if he), in reference to the dying person, مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ (be of the Muqarrabun) who fulfilled the obligations and the recommended acts of worship and avoided the forbidden and disliked matters and even some of the allowed, فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّـتُ نَعِيمٍ (then for him Rawh, Rayhan and a Garden of Delights.) Theirs will be Rawh and Rayhan; and the glad tidings of these traits will be conveyed to them by the angels at the time of death. We mentioned before the Prophet's Hadith narrated from Al-Bara' in which the angels of mercy say (to a dying, believing person), «أَيَّتُهَا الرُّوحُ الطَّيِّبَةُ فِي الْجَسَدِ الطَّيِّبِ كُنْتِ تَعْمُرِينَه، اخْرُجِي إِلَى رَوْحٍ وَرَيْحَانٍ وَرَبَ غَيْرِ غَضْبَان» (O good soul in the good body that you inhabited, come to Rawh, Rayhan and a Lord Who is not angry.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas, "Rawh means rest, and Rayhan means place of rest." Mujahid said similarly that Rawh means rest. Abu Hazrah said that Rawh means: "Rest from the world." Sa`id bin Jubayr and As-Suddi said that it means to rejoice. And from Mujahid: فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ (Rawh and Rayhan) means: "Paradise and delights." Qatadah said that Rawh means mercy. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Rayhan means provisions. All of these explanations are correct and similar in meaning. The near believers who die will earn all of these; mercy, rest, provision, joy, happiness and good delights, وَجَنَّـتُ نَعِيمٍ (and a Garden of Delights.) Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "None of the near believers will depart (this life) until after he is brought a branch of the Rayhan of Paradise and his soul is captured in it." Muhammad bin Ka`b said, "Every person who dies will know upon his death if he is among the people of Paradise or the people of the Fire." In the Sahih, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ أَرْوَاحَ الشُّهَدَاءِ فِي حَوَاصِلِ طُيُورٍ خُضْرٍ، تَسْرَحُ فِي رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ، ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إِلَى قَنَادِيلَ مُعَلَّقَةٍ بِالْعَرْش» (The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds flying wherever they wish in the Gardens of Paradise, and then rest to their nests in chandeliers hung from the Throne of the Almighty....) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ata' bin As-Sa'ib said, "The first day I saw `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Layla, I saw an old man whose hair had become white on his head and beard. He was riding his donkey and following a funeral. I heard him say, `So-and-so narrated to me that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, «مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللهِ أَحَبَّ اللهُ لِقَاءَهُ، وَمَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللهِ كَرِهَ اللهُ لِقَاءَه» (He who likes to meet Allah, Allah likes to meet him, and he who hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him.) The people around him started weeping, and he asked them why they wept. They said, `All of us hate death.' He said, «لَيْسَ ذَاكَ، وَلكِنَّهُ إِذَا احْتُضِرَ فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ - فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّـتُ نَعِيمٍ فَإِذَا بُشِّرَ بِذلِكَ أَحَبَّ لِقَاءَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَاللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلِقَائِهِ أَحَبُّ وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّآلِّينَ - فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ - وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ فَإذَا بُشِّرَ بِذلِكَ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَ اللهِ،وَاللهُ تَعَالَى لِلِقَائِهِ أَكْرَه» (It does not mean that. When one dies: (Then, if he be of the near believers, then for him are Rawh, Rayhan, and a Garden of Delights.)( and when this good news is conveyed to him, he likes to meet Allah the Exalted and Most Honored and Allah the Exalted and Most Honored likes, even more, to meet him, (But if he be of the denying, the erring, then for him is an entertainment with Hamim. And entry in Hellfire.)( and when this news is conveyed to him, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates, even more, to meet him.)" This is the narration that Imam Ahmad collected; and in the Sahih, there is a Hadith with this meaning collected from `A'ishah. Allah's statement, وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَـبِ الْيَمِينِ (And if he be of those on the right,) means, if he, the dying person, is among those on the right, فَسَلَـمٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَـبِ الْيَمِينِ (Then Salam (peace) to you from those on the right) meaning, the angels will deliver the good news to them by saying, "Peace be upon you," i.e., be calm, you will be led to safety, you are among those on the right, as `Ikrimah said, "The angels will greet him with the Salam and convey to him the news that he is among those on the right. " This is a good explanation, and it conforms with Allah's statement, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَـمُواْ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ أَلاَّ تَخَافُواْ وَلاَ تَحْزَنُواْ وَأَبْشِرُواْ بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ - نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَآؤُكُمْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِى الاٌّخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِى أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ - نُزُلاً مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ (Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allah." and then they stand firm, on them the angles will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your souls desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask. An entertainment from the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.") (41:30-32). Allah's statement, وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّآلِّينَ - فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ - وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ (But if he be of the denying, the erring, then for him is an entertainment with Hamim (boiling water) and entry in Hellfire.) meaning, if the dying person is one of those who denied the truth, who were led astray from guidance, فَنُزُلٌ (then for him is an entertainment,) meaning, as a guest مِنْ حَمِيمٍ (with Hamim) that dissolves his intestines and skin, وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ (And entry in Hellfire.) he will reside in Hellfire, which will engulf him from every direction. Allah the Exalted said, next, إِنَّ هَـذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ (Verily, this! This is an absolute truth with certainty.) meaning, this news is the truth; there is no doubt about it, nor escape from it for anyone, فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ (So, glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.) Jabir narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَنْ قَالَ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، غُرِسَتْ لَهُ نَخْلَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّة» (He who says, "Glory be to Allah the Magnificent and with His praise!" then a date tree will be planted for him in Paradise.) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i; At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib." Al-Bukhari recorded in his book (Sahih) that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كَلِمَتَانِ خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ، ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ، حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى الرَّحْمنِ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيم» ((There are) two statements that are light on the tongue, but heavy on the Balance, and most beloved to Ar-Rahman: "Glory be to Allah and with His praise, glory be to Allah the Magnificent.") The Group, with the exception of Abu Dawud, collected this. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Waqi`ah, all praise and thanks are due to Allah and all the favors come from Him.