As-Saffat 37:61
Those who set the Ranks · Juz 23 · Page 448
لِمِثۡلِ هَٰذَا فَلۡيَعۡمَلِ ٱلۡعَٰمِلُونَ ٦١
For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 37:61
Wondering about not having to die anymore
When the man who has been mentioned here will peep into Jahannam to have a look at his disbelieving acquaintance, it has been mentioned that the same man will be so delighted with the blessings of Jannah that he will exclaim: "Is it that we do not have to die anymore?" It does not mean that he will not be certain of the eternal life of Jannah. Instead, it is like the case of a person who achieves the highest degree of happiness. Such a person would occasionally break into exclamations that show as if he does not believe his eyes on having received such enormous blessings. These remarks are of the same nature.
Towards the end, the noble Qur'an turns our attention to the essential lesson embedded in this event and says: لِمِثْلِ هَٰذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعَامِلُونَ which means 'For this kind (of achievement), all workers must work.'
Page 448
37:52
يَقُولُ أَءِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُصَدِّقِينَ ٥٢
Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe
37:53
أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ ٥٣
That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'"
37:54
قَالَ هَلۡ أَنتُم مُّطَّلِعُونَ ٥٤
He will say,1 "Would you [care to] look?"
1 translator’s note
- To his companions in Paradise. ↩
37:55
فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِي سَوَآءِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٥٥
And he will look and see him1 in the midst of the Hellfire.
1 translator’s note
- The companion who had tried to dissuade him from belief on earth. ↩
37:56
قَالَ تَٱللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرۡدِينِ ٥٦
He will say, "By Allāh, you almost ruined me.
37:57
وَلَوۡلَا نِعۡمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡضَرِينَ ٥٧
If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell].
37:58
أَفَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ ٥٨
Then, are we not to die
37:59
إِلَّا مَوۡتَتَنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ ٥٩
Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?"
37:60
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ٦٠
Indeed, this is the great attainment.
37:61
لِمِثۡلِ هَٰذَا فَلۡيَعۡمَلِ ٱلۡعَٰمِلُونَ ٦١
For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.
37:62
أَذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ نُّزُلًا أَمۡ شَجَرَةُ ٱلزَّقُّومِ ٦٢
Is that [i.e., Paradise] a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqūm?
37:63
إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰهَا فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٦٣
Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.
37:64
إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٞ تَخۡرُجُ فِيٓ أَصۡلِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٦٤
Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,
37:65
طَلۡعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ ٦٥
Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.
37:66
فَإِنَّهُمۡ لَأٓكِلُونَ مِنۡهَا فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ ٦٦
And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.
37:67
ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمۡ عَلَيۡهَا لَشَوۡبٗا مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ ٦٧
Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.
37:68
ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرۡجِعَهُمۡ لَإِلَى ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٦٨
Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.
37:69
إِنَّهُمۡ أَلۡفَوۡاْ ءَابَآءَهُمۡ ضَآلِّينَ ٦٩
Indeed they found their fathers astray.
37:70
فَهُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمۡ يُهۡرَعُونَ ٧٠
So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps.
37:71
وَلَقَدۡ ضَلَّ قَبۡلَهُمۡ أَكۡثَرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٧١
And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,
37:72
وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِيهِم مُّنذِرِينَ ٧٢
And We had already sent among them warners.
37:73
فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ ٧٣
Then look how was the end of those who were warned -
37:74
إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ ٧٤
But not the chosen servants of Allāh.
37:75
وَلَقَدۡ نَادَىٰنَا نُوحٞ فَلَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمُجِيبُونَ ٧٥
And Noah had certainly called Us, and [We are] the best of responders.
37:76
وَنَجَّيۡنَٰهُ وَأَهۡلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلۡكَرۡبِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٧٦
And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.