Overview (Verses 7 - 26)

Three Groups

As this strongly shaking scene concludes, we are then introduced to the effects of this inevitable event as some people are elevated while others are abased. This takes place when everyone faces their different fate:

You shall be divided into three classes: There are the people of the right side: what people are tiny? And the people of the left side: what people are they? And there are those to the fore, who shall be foremost. (Verses 7-10)

Here, people are divided into three groups, unlike in most other Qur'anic statements where they are shown to be in two groups. The surah first mentions the people of the right side, but does not give us any details about them. Instead, a question is asked about them, enhancing the feeling of expectation: "There are the people of the right side: what people are they?" (Verse 8) The same method is used for the opposite group: "And the people of the left side: what people are they?" (Verse 9) The third group is then mentioned, and these are the ones to the fore. They are described by the same quality of being ahead of all: "there are those to the fore, who shall be foremost." (Verse 10) It is as if the surah says these are the ones, and this is enough. No further description is necessary, it would add nothing.

The surah then mentions their position with their Lord and describes in detail what blessings He has prepared for them. This is all described in a way that the addressees can understand, in light of their own knowledge and experience:

These will be brought nearest to God, in gardens of bliss. A good many of them are from earlier times and a few from later generations. On gold-encrusted couches they will recline facing each other. Immortal youths shall wait upon them with goblets, ewers, and cups filled with water from unsullied springs. From it they will not be dispersed, nor will they be in short supply And with fruit of any kind they may choose, and with the meat of any fowl they may desire. There will be for them companions with large beautiful eyes like hidden pearls: a reward for what they used to do. There they will hear no idle talk, no sinful speech, only the saying, Peace! Peace. (Verses 11-26)
 
The surah begins this detailed account by mentioning the greatest aspect of their elevated position, the bliss of being close to their Lord: "These will be brought nearest to God, in gardens of bliss." (Verses 11-12) The gardens of bliss, with all that they contain, is nothing compared to that topmost favour of being nearest to God.

The surah takes a short pause here to say who achieves this grade. Thus, we are told: "A good many of them are from earlier times and a few from later generations." (Verses 13-14) They are, then, the chosen ones, constituting a limited number. Most of them belong to earlier generations, but a minority come from later ones. Views differ as to which are the earlier generations and which are the later ones. The first view suggests that the earlier generations refer to those who attained to a high degree of faith from among the communities that lived prior to the advent of Islam, while the few from the later generations refers to the ones who were the first to accept Islam and strive hard for its cause. The second view says that both the majority and the minority belong to the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), with the ones of earlier times' belonging to its first generations, and the others to later ones.

This second view is the one preferred by Ibn Kathir, who cites in support quotations from al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin. Al-Hasan is reported to have said after reading these two verses: "Those to the fore are gone, but we pray to God to include us among the people of the right side." Then he explained the meaning of "A good many of them are from earlier times," saying that these are "from the earlier generations of the Muslim community." Muhammad ibn Sirin is reported to have said after reading these two verses: "Scholars used to say, or to hope, that they all belong to the Muslim community."

Now the surah begins to enumerate the types of luxuries they will enjoy in heaven. These are of course of the types they can imagine and visualize. Beyond these there are other luxuries and aspects of happiness and bliss, which they will recognize when they are ready to appreciate them in their future lives. These are things 'no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of and no mind has ever imagined.'

"On gold-encrusted couches they will recline facing each other." (Verses 15-16) They are comfortable, free of all worries and preoccupations, reassured as to the continuity of their happiness, knowing that it will never end. Hence, they come together, in an atmosphere of mutual love. "Immortal youths shall wait upon them." (Verse 17) These youths are unaffected by the passage of time; they retain their youthful looks. They go round carrying "goblets, ewers, and cups filled with water from unsullied springs." (Verse 18) Their drink is made of pure wine that causes no intoxication. "From it they will not be dispersed, nor will they be in short supply." (Verse 19) They are not turned away from it, nor will it ever be used up. Everything here is always plentiful; nothing is ever out of stock. "And with fruit of any kind they may choose, and with the meat of any fowl they may desire." (Verses 20-21) Nothing is unavailable, while everything is given in the way those happy ones may desire. "There will be for them companions with large beautiful eyes like hidden pearls." (Verses 22-23) Hidden pearls are those that are carefully treasured. No hand has ever put a needle through them, and no eye has ever cast a piercing look at them. A host of gentle connotations, both mental and physical, are implied in this description of these companions with their large beautiful eyes. All this is "a reward for what they used to do." (Verse 24) It is a reward for what is done during that stage of life where action is required. In that life, nothing people do attains perfection, but here in this life, in heaven, the reward is absolutely perfect.

Moreover, they are greeted gently in a way that disdains all idle talk: "There they will hear no idle talk, no sinful speech, only the saying, 'Peace! Peace:" (Verses 25-26) Their lives are peaceful; peace that spreads all around them. They are saluted by the angels with a greeting of peace, and they exchange the same greeting with one another, and an even better greeting of peace is extended to them from the Lord of Grace. It is all then a life of peace.