بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Al-Ghashiyah 88:14
The Overwhelming · Juz 30 · Page 592
وَأَكۡوَابٞ مَّوۡضُوعَةٞ ١٤
And cups put in place
Tafsir · in English
Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Medium · The classic, abridged: ayahs explained by ayahs and hadith.
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Commentary on 88:8–16
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 لَغِيَةً
(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 سَلَماً
(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 سَلَماً سَلَماً
(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.
Page 592
87:16
بَلۡ تُؤۡثِرُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ١٦
But you prefer the worldly life,
87:17
وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ خَيۡرٞ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ ١٧
While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
87:18
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِي ٱلصُّحُفِ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ١٨
Indeed, this is in the former scriptures,
87:19
صُحُفِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ ١٩
The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.
88:1
هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلۡغَٰشِيَةِ ١
Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
88:2
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ خَٰشِعَةٌ ٢
[Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled,
88:3
عَامِلَةٞ نَّاصِبَةٞ ٣
Working [hard] and exhausted.1
1 translator’s note
- Another accepted meaning is "They were working hard and exhausted," i.e., doing deeds during worldly life which did not benefit them since they were not accompanied by faith or done for the acceptance of Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) . ↩
88:4
تَصۡلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةٗ ٤
They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.
88:5
تُسۡقَىٰ مِنۡ عَيۡنٍ ءَانِيَةٖ ٥
They will be given drink from a boiling spring.
88:6
لَّيۡسَ لَهُمۡ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٖ ٦
For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant
88:7
لَّا يُسۡمِنُ وَلَا يُغۡنِي مِن جُوعٖ ٧
Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
88:8
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ نَّاعِمَةٞ ٨
[Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure.
88:9
لِّسَعۡيِهَا رَاضِيَةٞ ٩
With their effort [they are] satisfied
88:10
فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٖ ١٠
In an elevated garden,
88:11
لَّا تَسۡمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةٗ ١١
Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., any insult, falsehood, immorality, idle or vain talk, etc. ↩
88:12
فِيهَا عَيۡنٞ جَارِيَةٞ ١٢
Within it is a flowing spring.
88:13
فِيهَا سُرُرٞ مَّرۡفُوعَةٞ ١٣
Within it are couches raised high
88:14
وَأَكۡوَابٞ مَّوۡضُوعَةٞ ١٤
And cups put in place
88:15
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصۡفُوفَةٞ ١٥
And cushions lined up
88:16
وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبۡثُوثَةٌ ١٦
And carpets spread around.
88:17
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِبِلِ كَيۡفَ خُلِقَتۡ ١٧
Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?
88:18
وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيۡفَ رُفِعَتۡ ١٨
And at the sky - how it is raised?
88:19
وَإِلَى ٱلۡجِبَالِ كَيۡفَ نُصِبَتۡ ١٩
And at the mountains - how they are erected?
88:20
وَإِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَيۡفَ سُطِحَتۡ ٢٠
And at the earth - how it is spread out?
88:21
فَذَكِّرۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٞ ٢١
So remind, [O Muḥammad]; you are only a reminder.
88:22
لَّسۡتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِمُصَيۡطِرٍ ٢٢
You are not over them a controller.
88:23
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ ٢٣
However, he who turns away and disbelieves –
88:24
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرَ ٢٤
Then Allāh will punish him with the greatest punishment.
88:25
إِنَّ إِلَيۡنَآ إِيَابَهُمۡ ٢٥
Indeed, to Us is their return.
88:26
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا حِسَابَهُم ٢٦
Then indeed, upon Us is their account.
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy