43:71 Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of gold)

{ يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِصِحَافٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ } أي: تدور عليهم خدامهم، من الولدان المخلدين بطعامهم، بأحسن الأواني وأفخرها، وهي صحاف الذهب وشرابهم، بألطف الأواني، وهي الأكواب التي لا عرى لها، وهي من أصفى الأواني، من فضة أعظم من صفاء القوارير.{ وَفِيهَا } أي: الجنة { مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ الْأَنْفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْيُنُ } وهذا لفظ جامع، يأتي على كل نعيم وفرح، وقرة عين، وسرور قلب، فكل ما اشتهته النفوس، من مطاعم، ومشارب، وملابس، ومناكح، ولذته العيون، من مناظر حسنة، وأشجار محدقة، ونعم مونقة، ومبان مزخرفة، فإنه حاصل فيها، معد لأهلها، على أكمل الوجوه وأفضلها، كما قال تعالى: { لَهُمْ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَلَهُمْ مَا يَدَّعُونَ } { وَأَنْتُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ } وهذا هو تمام نعيم أهل الجنة، وهو الخلد الدائم فيها، الذي يتضمن دوام نعيمها وزيادته، وعدم انقطاعه.

أي زباديِّ آنية الطعام "وأكواب" وهي آنية الشراب أي من ذهب لا خراطيم لها ولا عرى "وفيها ما تشتهي الأنفس" وقرأ بعضهم تشتهيه الأنفس "وتلذ الأعين" أي طيب الطعم والريح وحسن المنظر قال عبد الرزاق أخبرنا معمر أخبرني إسماعيل بن أبي سعيد قال: إن عكرمة مولى ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أخبره أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " إن أدنى أهل الجنة منزلة وأسفلهم درجة لرجل لا يدخل الجنة بعده أحد يفسح له في بصره مسيرة مائة عام في قصور من ذهب وخيام من لؤلؤ ليس فيها موضع شبر إلا معمور يغدى عليه ويراح بسبعين ألف صحفة من ذهب ليس فيها صحفة إلا فيها لون ليس في الأخرى مثله شهوته في آخرها كشهوته في أولها لو نزل به جميع أهل الأرض لوسع عليهم مما أعطى لا ينقص ذلك مما أوتي شيئا" وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا علي بن الحسين بن الجنيد حدثنا عمرو بن سواد السرحي حدثني عبدالله بن وهب عن ابن لهيعة عن عقيل بن خالد عن الحسن عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن أبا أمامة رضي الله عنه حدث أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حدثهم وذكر الجنة فقال " والذي نفس محمد بيده ليأخذن أحدكم اللقمة فيجعلهـا في فيه ثم يخطر على باله طعام آخر فيتحول الطعام الذي في فيه على الذي اشتهى " ثم قرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "وفيها ما تشتهيه الأنفس وتلذ الأعين وأنتم فيها خالدون" وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حسن هو ابن موسى حدثنا مسكين بن عبدالعزيز حدثنا أبو الأشعث الضرير عن شهر بن حوشب عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " إن أدنى أهل الجنة منزلة من له لسبع درجات وهو على السادسة وفوقه السابعة وإن له ثلثمائة خادم ويغدى عليه ويراح كل يوم بثلثمائة صحفة - ولا أعلمه إلا قال من ذهب- في كل صحفة لون ليس في الأخرى وإنه ليلذ أوله كما يلذ آخره ومن الأشربة ثلثمائة إناء في كل إناء لون ليس في الآخر وإنه ليلذ أوله كما يلذ آخره وإنه ليقول يا رب لو أذنت لي لأطعمت أهل الجنة وسقيتهم لم ينقص مما عندي شيء وإن له من الحور العين لاثنين وسبعين زوجة سوى أزواجه من الدنيا وإن الواحدة منهن لتأخذ مقعدها قدر ميل من الأرض".وقوله تعالى "وأنتم فيها" أي في الجنة "خالدون" أي لا تخرجون منها ولا تبغون عنها حولا.

The Resurrection will come suddenly, and Enmity will arise between close Friends among the Disbeliev

Allah says, `do these idolaters who disbelieve in the Messengers wait'

إِلاَّ السَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ

(only for the Hour that it shall come upon them suddenly while they perceive not) means, for it is real and will inevitably come to pass, and these negligent people are unprepared for it. When it comes, it will catch them unawares, and on that Day they will feel the utmost regret when regret will not benefit them in the slightest and will not afford them any protection.

الاٌّخِلاَءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ

(Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except those who have Taqwa.) means, every friendship that exists for a purpose other than for the sake of Allah will turn to enmity on the Day of Resurrection, except for that which is for the sake of Allah, which will last forever. This is like the statement of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to his people:

إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَـناً مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن نَّـصِرِينَ

(You have taken (for worship) idols instead of Allah. The love between you is only in the life of this world, but on the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other, and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and you shall have no helper.) (29:25)

Good News for Those with Taqwa on the Day of Resurrection, and Their entry into Paradise

يعِبَادِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمُوَلاَ أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ

(My servants! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve.) Then He will give them the glad tidings:

الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَكَانُواْ مُسْلِمِينَ

((You) who believed in Our Ayat and were Muslims.) means, their hearts believed and they submitted inwardly and outwardly to the Laws of Allah. Al-Mu`tamir bin Sulayman narrated that his father said: "When the Day of Resurrection comes and the people are resurrected, there will be no one left who will not be filled with terror. Then a caller will cry out:

يعِبَادِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَلاَ أَنتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ

(My servants! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve.) So all the people will be filled with hope, but this will be followed by the words:

الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَكَانُواْ مُسْلِمِينَ

((You) who believed in Our Ayat and were Muslims.) Then all of mankind will be filled with despair apart from the believers."

ادْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ

(Enter Paradise, ) means, they will be told to enter Paradise.

أَنتُمْ وَأَزْوَجُكُمْ

(you and your wives,) means, your counterparts

تُحْبَرُونَ

(in happiness (Tuhbarun).) means, in delight and joy.

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِصِحَـفٍ مِّن ذَهَبٍ وَأَكْوَبٍ

(Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them;) means, fine vessels of gold containing food and drink, without spouts or handles. (وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي الْأَنْفُسُ) (there will be) therein all that their souls could desire). Some of them recited:

مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ الاٌّنْفُسُ

(that their souls desire,)

وَتَلَذُّ الاٌّعْيُنُ

(and all that eyes could delight in) means, of good food, delightful fragrances and beautiful scenes.

وَأَنتُمْ فِيهَا

(and you will therein) means, in Paradise

خَـلِدُونَ

(abide forever) means, you will never leave it or want to exchange it. Then it will be said to them, as a reminder of the blessing and favor of Allah:

وَتِلْكَ الْجَنَّةُ الَّتِى أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

(This is the Paradise, which you have been made to inherit because of your deeds that you used to do.) means, the righteous deeds which were the cause of your being included in the mercy of Allah. For no one will be admitted to Paradise by virtue of their deeds alone; that will be by the mercy and grace of Allah. But the varying ranks and degrees of Paradise will be attained according to one's righteous deeds.

لَكُمْ فِيهَا فَـكِهَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ

(Therein for you will be fruits in plenty,) means, of all kinds.

مِّنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ

(of which you will eat.) means, whatever you choose and desire. When food and drink are mentioned, fruit is also mentioned to complete the picture of blessing and joy. And Allah knows best.

They will be served from all around with large dishes of gold and goblets akwāb is the plural of kūb which is a drinking vessel without a handle so that the person can drink from whichever side he wants and therein will be whatever souls desire to relish and eyes delight in contemplating and you will abide in it forever.

Commentary

The only real friendship is that which is in the sake of Allah

الْأَخِلَّاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ (Friends, on that day, will become enemies to one another, except the God-fearing 43:67). This verse tells us plainly that the friendly relations in which we take so much pride in this world, and for which we don't even care about halal (permitted) and Haram (unlawful), will be of no use on the Day of judgment, rather they will turn into enmity. In this connection, Hafiz Ibn Kathir has reproduced a discourse of Sayyidna ` Ali ؓ narrated by ` Abdur Razzaq in his Musannaf and by Ibn Abi Hatim regarding two Muslim friends and two Non-Muslim friends. One of the Muslim friends died and when he was given the glad tidings of Paradise, he recollected his friend and supplicated in his favour: "0 Allah! That friend of mine used to advise me to obey You and to obey the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، he used to direct me towards virtues and to prevent me from vices, and kept on reminding me that one day I would have to meet You. So 0 Allah! Do not misguide him after me, so that he may also see the scenes of Paradise as You have shown to me, and be pleased with him, as you have been with me." In reply, it will be said to him, "Do not worry, if you know what reward I have stored for your friend, you will weep less and laugh more." Later, when the friend will also have died, both the souls will get together and Allah Ta` ala will direct them that each one of them should praise the other. Thereupon, each one of them will say about the other that he is the best brother, best companion and the best friend.

As against this, when one of the Non-Muslim friends will die, and he will be told that he will go to Hell, he will recollect his friend and will supplicate thus "0 Allah! That friend of mine used to insist upon me to disobey You and your messenger, used to direct me towards vices and used to prevent me from virtues and used to tell me that I would never meet You. So 0 Allah! Do not give him guidance after me, so that he may also see the scenes of Hell, as You have shown to me, and be displeased with him just as You have been displeased with me." Later, when the other friend will also have died, both their souls will be get together, and they will be directed to praise the other. Then each one of them will say about the other, "He is the worst brother, worst companion and worst friend. (Ibn Kathir p. 134, v.4)

Therefore the best friendship, in respect of this world as well as the Hereafter, is the one that is for the sake of Allah. Many are the merits stated in 'ahadith' for those two Muslims who love each other purely for the sake of Allah. One of these merits is that they will be in the shade of the "'Arsh" (Throne) of Allah. And 'love for the sake of Allah' means to love someone because he is a true follower of the religion prescribed by Allah. As such, it includes sincere love for teachers of religious subjects, spiritual guides, reformers, religious scholars and devotees of Allah, as well as for all the Muslims.

For them will be brought around platters and cups of gold. Therein will be whatever the souls hunger for and gives pleasure to the eyes. For them will be brought around platters and cups of gold. This is the portion of the renunciants and worshipers, who kept themselves totally in obedience and worship. They passed their days in hunger and thirst by the decree of discipline and struggle according to the Shariah. They did not take advantage of the tasty foods and drinks of this world, so tomorrow in paradise the serving boys and servants will pass around golden cups and say to them, “Eat and drink pleasantly for what you left behind in bygone days” [69:24]. Therein shall be whatever the souls hunger for and gives pleasure to the eyes. This is the portion of the recognizers and the yearners, who were always wishing for the vision of the Real's majesty and beauty with thirsty hearts, burning breaths, and spirits lit up by passion. A whiff of the world of friendship had reached them, and that whiff distracted and bewildered them. This was a bewilderment within the curtain, not outside the curtain. The bewilderment that takes you outside makes you lose the road, but the bewilderment inside the curtain is one of the traces of the perfect divine majesty. Whoever cannot go from creation to the Real is bewildered by losing the road. Whoever cannot come from the Real to creation is bewildered by the Presence of the Threshold. Wherever he goes, he returns only to Him. From here the Pir of the Tariqah said, “For a long time I was seeking Him and finding myself. Now I seek myself and find Him.” This is the same bewilderment requested by the chevaliers of the Tariqah: “O Guide of the bewildered, increase me in bewilderment!” They sang, “I am bewildered in Thee, take my hand, O guide of those bewildered in Thee!” A group worshiped God with fear and hope and their eyes fell on this: For them will be brought around platters and cups of gold. They are the wage-earners who have stayed attached to the reward and tied their hearts to aching for everlastingness. A group worshiped Him with affection and love, and they are the recognizers. They gave their hearts to His love and burned in wishing to see Him.