Verse 22
The Iron • madinah
View Aspects
سَابِقُوۡۤا اِلٰی مَغۡفِرَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَجَنَّۃٍ عَرۡضُہَا کَعَرۡضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ اُعِدَّتۡ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَرُسُلِہٖ ۚ ذٰلِکَ فَضۡلُ اللّٰہِ یُؤۡتِیۡہِ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ۚ وَاللّٰہُ ذُو الۡفَضۡلِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ
3:134.
3:134.
‘Ard meaning value and vastness, the verse signifies that (a) the reward of the righteous in the Hereafter will be beyond measure or count. (b) Paradise being as extensive as both the heavens and the earth—the whole space—it comprises Hell also. This shows that Paradise and hell are not two distinct and separate places but two conditions or states of mind. A well- known saying of the Holy Prophet gives an insight into the Quranic conception of Paradise and Hell. Once on being asked by some of his Companions: 'If Paradise comprises in its vastness heavens and earth, where is Hell,' the Holy Prophet is reported to have replied, 'Where is the night when the day comes' (Kathir).
3:134; 35:33.
Important Words:
عرض (value) is derived from عرض (‘arada). عرض الشیء لفلان means, he showed, manifested, presented the thing to such a one means, breadth, width; vastness; latitude. ذھب طولاً و عرضاً means, he went lengthwise and breadthwise. The word also means, worldly goods; price; gain; a compensation; a substitute; any goods or commodities except gold or silver; etc. (Lane).
Commentary:
In view of different meanings of عرض given under Important Words the verse would mean that the heavens and the earth—the whole universe—would be given to believers as a reward for the good works they had done in this life, which signifies that the reward of the righteous in the afterlife would be beyond measure or count. Or the Paradise comprising both the heavens and the earth may signify that the believers will live in Paradise both in this life and in the Hereafter. Moreover, the fact that Paradise as conceived by the Quran is as extensive as both the heavens and the earth—the whole space—shows that it comprises Hell also. This means that Paradise and Hell are not two distinct and separate places but two conditions or states of mind. A well-known saying of the Holy Prophet gives an insight into the Quranic conception of Paradise and Hell. Once on being asked by some of his Companions: "If Paradise comprises in its vastness heavens and earth, where is Hell," the Holy Prophet is reported to have replied, أین اللیل اذا جاء النھار i.e. where is the night when the day comes (Ibn Kathir). Besides, the substitution of the words مغفرة من ربکم وجنة in the verse under comment for مغفرة من اللّٰه و رضوان in the preceding verse shows that Paradise (جنة) in fact means the pleasure of God (رضوان). What a beautiful conception of Paradise!
c
3:134.
a
3:134; 35:33.
4164
Important Words:
عرض (value) is derived from عرض (‘arada). عرض الشیء لفلان means, he showed, manifested, presented the thing to such a one means, breadth, width; vastness; latitude. ذھب طولاً و عرضاً means, he went lengthwise and breadthwise. The word also means, worldly goods; price; gain; a compensation; a substitute; any goods or commodities except gold or silver; etc. (Lane).
Commentary:
In view of different meanings of عرض given under Important Words the verse would mean that the heavens and the earth—the whole universe—would be given to believers as a reward for the good works they had done in this life, which signifies that the reward of the righteous in the afterlife would be beyond measure or count. Or the Paradise comprising both the heavens and the earth may signify that the believers will live in Paradise both in this life and in the Hereafter. Moreover, the fact that Paradise as conceived by the Quran is as extensive as both the heavens and the earth—the whole space—shows that it comprises Hell also. This means that Paradise and Hell are not two distinct and separate places but two conditions or states of mind. A well-known saying of the Holy Prophet gives an insight into the Quranic conception of Paradise and Hell. Once on being asked by some of his Companions: "If Paradise comprises in its vastness heavens and earth, where is Hell," the Holy Prophet is reported to have replied, أین اللیل اذا جاء النھار i.e. where is the night when the day comes (Ibn Kathir). Besides, the substitution of the words مغفرة من ربکم وجنة in the verse under comment for مغفرة من اللّٰه و رضوان in the preceding verse shows that Paradise (جنة) in fact means the pleasure of God (رضوان). What a beautiful conception of Paradise!
a
3:134.
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‘Ard meaning value and vastness, the verse signifies that (a) the reward of the righteous in the Hereafter will be beyond measure or count. (b) Paradise being as extensive as both the heavens and the earth—the whole space—it comprises Hell also. This shows that Paradise and hell are not two distinct and separate places but two conditions or states of mind. A well- known saying of the Holy Prophet gives an insight into the Quranic conception of Paradise and Hell. Once on being asked by some of his Companions: 'If Paradise comprises in its vastness heavens and earth, where is Hell,' the Holy Prophet is reported to have replied, 'Where is the night when the day comes' (Kathir).