Ma'arif al-Qur'an · Tafsir · in English
Sad 38:52–64
38:52–64Page 456
۞ وَعِندَهُمۡ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرۡفِ أَتۡرَابٌ ٥٢
And with them will be women limiting [their] glances1 and of equal age.
هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِيَوۡمِ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ٥٣
This is what you, [the righteous], are promised for the Day of Account.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَرِزۡقُنَا مَا لَهُۥ مِن نَّفَادٍ ٥٤
Indeed, this is Our provision; for it there is no depletion.
هَٰذَاۚ وَإِنَّ لِلطَّٰغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَٔابٖ ٥٥
This [is so]. But indeed, for the transgressors is an evil place of return -
جَهَنَّمَ يَصۡلَوۡنَهَا فَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ ٥٦
Hell, which they will [enter to] burn, and wretched is the resting place.
هَٰذَا فَلۡيَذُوقُوهُ حَمِيمٞ وَغَسَّاقٞ ٥٧
This - so let them taste it - is scalding water and [foul] purulence.
وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكۡلِهِۦٓ أَزۡوَٰجٌ ٥٨
And other [punishments] of its type [in various] kinds.
هَٰذَا فَوۡجٞ مُّقۡتَحِمٞ مَّعَكُمۡ لَا مَرۡحَبَۢا بِهِمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ صَالُواْ ٱلنَّارِ ٥٩
[Its inhabitants will say], "This is a company bursting in with you. No welcome for them. Indeed, they will burn in the Fire."
قَالُواْ بَلۡ أَنتُمۡ لَا مَرۡحَبَۢا بِكُمۡۖ أَنتُمۡ قَدَّمۡتُمُوهُ لَنَاۖ فَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡقَرَارُ ٦٠
They will say, "Nor you! No welcome for you. You, [our leaders], brought this upon us, and wretched is the settlement."
قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا مَن قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَٰذَا فَزِدۡهُ عَذَابٗا ضِعۡفٗا فِي ٱلنَّارِ ٦١
They will say, "Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us - increase for him double punishment in the Fire."
وَقَالُواْ مَا لَنَا لَا نَرَىٰ رِجَالٗا كُنَّا نَعُدُّهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَشۡرَارِ ٦٢
And they will say, "Why do we not see men whom we used to count among the worst?1
أَتَّخَذۡنَٰهُمۡ سِخۡرِيًّا أَمۡ زَاغَتۡ عَنۡهُمُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ ٦٣
Is it [because] we took them in ridicule, or has [our] vision turned away from them?"
إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَحَقّٞ تَخَاصُمُ أَهۡلِ ٱلنَّارِ ٦٤
Indeed, that is truth [i.e., reality] - the quarreling of the people of the Fire.
In verse 52, it was said: وَعِندَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ (and in their company there will be females restricting their glances ] to their husbands, and[ of matching ages.). Meant by these are the Hurs or Houris of Jannah (referred to, fondly enough for some people, even as 'nymphs of Paradise' ). Being of matching ages could mean that they will be of the same age as among themselves. And it could also mean that they will be of the same age as their spouses. In the first situation, if they were of the same age, the good thing. about it would be that they would be relating to each other in mutual amity as friends, and not as 'the other woman' something very welcome for spouses.
Consideration of matching age between spouses is better
Then there is the other situation. If being of the same age is taken to mean that spouses will be of the same age, the good thing about it would be that there would be temperamental harmony between them, and they will have consideration for each other's preferences. This tells us that consideration should be made to keep ages of spouses matched, for it generates mutual love, and makes the relationship of marriage pleasant and permanent.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences