SURAH AL-A RAAF (AYA 41 to 50)

لَهُمْ مِنْ جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ وَمِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الظَّالِمِينَ {7:41}

[Q7:41] Lahum min jahannama mihaadunw wa min fawqihim ghawaash; wa kazaalika najziz zaalimeen. 

[Q7:41] They shall have a bed of hell-fire and from above them coverings (of it); and thus do We reward the unjust.
[Q7:41] Disediakan untuk mereka hamparan-hamparan dari api Neraka dan di atas mereka lapisan-lapisan penutup (dari api Neraka) dan demikianlah Kami membalas orang-orang yang zalim (disebabkan keingkarannya).  

(see commentary for verse 36)

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(7:41) Hell shall be their bed, and also above them their covering. Thus do We reward the wrong-doers.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {7:42}

[Q7:42] Wallazeena aamanoo wa 'amilus saalihaati la nukallifu nafsan illaa wus'ahaaa ulaaa'ika Ashaabul jannati hum feehaa khaalidoon. 
[Q7:42] And (as for) those who believe and do good We do not impose on any soul a duty except to the extent of its ability-- they are the dwellers of the garden; in it they shall abide.

[Q7:42] Dan orang-orang yang beriman serta beramal soleh (dengan tidak menjadi keberatan kepada mereka, kerana) Kami tidak memberati diri seseorang (dengan kewajipan) melainkan sekadar yang terdaya olehnya, merekalah ahli Syurga, mereka kekal di dalamnya. 

Those who [1] believe in ALLAH (SWT), [2] the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and [3] his Ahlul Bayt, follow [a] their teachings AND [b] do good WILL DWELL IN EVERLASTING BLISS, WHERE HARMONY OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AMONG THE BELIEVERS, ON ACCOUNT OF HIGHER INTELLECTUAL AWARENESS, WILL BE ONE OF THE PLEASURES OF ETERNAL LIFE.

Ì  Verses 36 to 41 and 42 to 43 show the difference BETWEEN the beliers of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and his Ahlul Bayt and the followers of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and his Ahlul Bayt in the life of hereafter.

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(7:42) And those who believe and do good - We do not impose upon any of them a burden beyond his capacity. They are the people of Paradise. And there they shall abide.

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوا أَنْ تِلْكُمُ الْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ {7:43}

[Q7:43] Wa naza'naa maa fee sudoorihim min ghillin tajree min tahtihimul anhaaru wa qaalul hamdu lillaahil lazee hadaanaa lihaaza wa maa kunna linahtadiya law laaa ann hadaanal laahu laqad jaaa'at Rusulu Rabbinaa bilhaqq; wa noodoo an tilkumul jannnatu ooristumoohaa bimaa kuntum ta'maloon. 

[Q7:43] And We will remove whatever of ill-feeling is in their breasts; the rivers shall flow beneath them and they shall say: All praise is due to ALLAH (SWT) Who guided us to this, and we would not have found the way had it not been that ALLAH (SWT) had guided us; certainly the messengers of our Lord brought the truth; and it shall be cried out to them that this is the garden of which you are made heirs for what you did.
[Q7:43] Dan Kami cabutkan segala dendam dan hasad dengki dari hati mereka, (di dalam Syurga) yang mengalir beberapa sungai di bawah (tempat) masing-masing dan mereka pula bersyukur dengan berkata: Segala puji tertentu bagi ALLAH (SwT) yang telah memberi hidayat petunjuk untuk (mendapat nikmat-nikmat) ini, padahal Kami tidak sekali-kali akan memperoleh petunjuk kalau ALLAH (SwT) tidak memimpin kami (dengan taufiqNya); sesungguhnya telah datang Rasul-rasul Tuhan kami dengan membawa kebenaran. Dan mereka diseru: Itulah Syurga yang diberikan kamu mewarisinya dengan sebab apa yang kamu telah kerjakan. 

(see commentary for verse 42)

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(7:43) We shall strip away all rancour from their hearts, *32 and rivers shall flow beneath them, and they shall say: 'All praise be to Allah Who has guided us on to this. Had it not been for Allah Who granted us guidance, we would not be on the Right Path. Surely the Messengers of our Lord did indeed come down with truth.' Then a voice will cry out to them: 'This is the Paradise which you are made to inherit as a reward for your deeds.'  *33

*32. If there develops any rancour or ill-will among good people during the course of their worldly lives, such rancour and will be removed in the Hereafter. Their hearts will be purged of all hostile feelings and they will enter Paradise as cordial friends. They will not feel envious towards those who had formerly been opposed or hostile to them that they share with them the bounties of Paradise. Significantly, 'Ali once recited this very verse and remarked: 'I wish that I and 'Uthman and Talhah and al-Zubayr will be among those about whom God has said: "And We shall take away all rancour from their hearts" ' (verse 43). (See Qurtubi's comments on verse 43 - Ed.) Reflection on the verse leads one to conclude that out of His mercy, God will first purge the righteous of their blemishes. This will be done before admitting them to Paradise. Thus they will enter Paradise in a state of untainted purity. 
*33. This refers to something of a fine and delicate character that will take place in Paradise. Instead of boasting about their virtuous deeds which led them to Paradise, the righteous will thank and praise God profusely and acknowledge His grace and mercy without which they could never have entered Paradise. On the other hand, God will not impress His bounty upon the righteous; He will rather emphasize that Paradise is granted to them by way of compensation for their righteous conduct, that it is the fruit of their hard labour; that it is not like the crumbs of charity but a fair recompense for their striving. The subtlety involved here is further brought into relief by the fact that the above response will not be made by God. It will rather be just announced to them.
What is said above about the Hereafter may be discerned in the attitude of the righteous in the world itself. The wicked and arrogant ones take great pride in their worldly attainments and ascribe them to their own efforts. They firmly, believe that what they have achieved is the fruit of their labour. Swaved by such notions, they continue to act even more haughtily. Conversely the righteous look upon all the bounties which they receive as favours from God. Accordingly, they thank and praise Him out of gratitude. The more they are lavished with worldly favours, the more humble and generous they become. Moreover, they do not suffer from the illusion that their righteousness will certainly earn them their salvation. On the contrary, they consistently repent over their lapses and earnestly turn to God in the hope that He will pardon them out of His grace and mercy. They are always fearful of God's reckoning lest their evil deeds are found to outweigh their good deeds. According to a tradition the Prophet (peace he on him) said: 'Know well that none will he able to enter Paradise by dint of his good deeds.' When asked if that would apply to him as well, the Prophet (peace he on him) replied: 'Yes, in my case as well; unless God covers me with His mercy and favour.' (Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq, 'Bab al-Qasd wa a Mudawamah ala al-Amal' - Ed.)

وَنَادَىٰ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَابَ النَّارِ أَنْ قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدْتُمْ مَا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا ۖ قَالُوا نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ {7:44}

[Q7:44] Wa naadaa Ashaabul jannati ashaaban Naari an qad wajadnaa maa wa'adannaa Rabbunaa haqqan fahal wajattum maa wa'ada Rabbukum haqqan qaaloo na'am; fa azzana mu'azzinum bainahum al la'natul laahi 'alaz zaalimeen. 

[Q7:44] And the dwellers of the garden will call out to the inmates of the fire: Surely we have found what our Lord promised us to be true; have you too found what your Lord promised to be true? They will say: Yes. Then a crier will cry out among them that the curse of ALLAH (SWT) is on the unjust.
[Q7:44] Dan (apabila ahli-ahli Syurga itu berada di tempat masing-masing), berserulah mereka kepada ahli Neraka dengan berkata: Sesungguhnya kami telah dapati apa yang telah dijanjikan kepada kami oleh Tuhan kami, semuanya betul. Maka adakah kamu juga telah dapati apa yang telah dijanjikan oleh Tuhan kamu itu semuanya betul?. Mereka menjawab: Benar ada. Kemudian berserulah penyeru (malaikat) di antara mereka (kedua-dua puak itu) menyatakan: Bahawa laknat ALLAH (SwT) tertimpa ke atas orang-orang yang zalim.

"A crier shall cry between them"- according to Ibn Marduwayh, in Kashf al Ghummah, this crier is Imam Ali ibne Abi Talib.

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(7:44) And the people of Paradise shall cry to the people of Hell: 'Surely we have found our Lord's promise to us to be true. have you also found true what your Lord has promised you?' 'Yes', they shall answer; and a herald shall cry out among them: 'Allah's curse be upon the wrong-doers';

الَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُمْ بِالْآخِرَةِ كَافِرُونَ {7:45}

[Q7:45] Allazeena yasuddoona 'an sabeelil laahi wa yabghoo nahaa 'iwajanw wa hum bil Aakhirati kaafiroon. 
[Q7:45] Who hinder (people) from ALLAH (SWT)'s way and seek to make it crooked, and they are disbelievers in the hereafter.

[Q7:45] Iaitu mereka yang menghalang (dirinya sendiri dan juga orang lain) dari menurut jalan ALLAH (SwT) dan mencari helah menjadikan jalan itu bengkok terpesong, sedang mereka pula tidak percayakan hari akhirat. 

THIS VERSE REFERS TO THOSE WHO [1] MISINTERPRET THE QUR’AN, [2] CHANGE or [3] OMIT THE SAYINGS OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and [4] FABRICATE TRADITIONS in order to hinder or turn away people from the true path of ALLAH (SWT).

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(7:45) upon those who hinder men from the path of Allah and seek to make it crooked; and disbelieve in the Hereafter.'

وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ ۚ وَعَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيمَاهُمْ ۚ وَنَادَوْا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ {7:46}

[Q7:46] Wa bainahumaa hijaab; wa 'alal A'raafi rijaaluny ya'rifoona kullam biseemaahum; wa naadaw Ashaabal jannati an salaamun 'alaikum; lam yadkhuloohaa wa hum yatma'oon. 

[Q7:46] And between the two there shall be a veil, and on the most elevated places there shall be men who know all by their marks, and they shall call out to the dwellers of the garden: Peace be on you; they shall not have yet entered it, though they hope.
[Q7:46] Dan di antara keduanya (Syurga dan Neraka) ada tembok "Al-A'raaf "(yang menjadi) pendinding dan di atas tembok Al-A'raaf itu ada sebilangan orang-orang lelaki yang mengenal tiap-tiap seorang (dari ahli-ahli Syurga dan Neraka) itu, dengan tanda masing-masing dan mereka pun menyeru ahli Syurga (dengan memberi salam, katanya): "Salaamun Alaikum" (salam sejahtera kepada kamu). Sedang mereka, sendiri belum lagi masuk Syurga, padahal mereka ingin sangat memasukinya. 

THE MEN OF EXALTED SPIRITUAL HONOUR (e.g. the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and his Ahlul Bayt identified in Ahzab 33:33) shall occupy the heights (a’raf) overlooking those described in verses 36 to 41 and those mentioned in verses 42 and 43, waiting in two separate areas divided by a partition, before going into hell or paradise respectively. The men on the heights will recognise them all by their marks.

Ì  THESE VERSES CLEARLY ESTABLISH THE FACT THAT THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AND HIS AHLUL BAYT HAVE THE PERMISSION OF ALLAH (SWT) TO INTERCEDE ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOM THEY RECOGNISE AS THEIR TRUE FOLLOWERS. Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:48

Imam Ali said:

‘What you beget is buried under the earth. What you build will be demolished. What you do is recorded and will be referred to (as material evidence) on the day of reckoning.’

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(7:46) And between the two there will be a barrier, and on the Heights will be men who will recognize each person by his mark and will cry, out to the people of Paradise: 'Peace be to you.'These will be the ones who had not yet joined them in Paradise, though they long to do so. *34

*34. The people of A'raf (Heights) will be the people who are neither righteous enough to enter Paradise nor wicked enough to he cast into Hell. They will, therefore, dwell at a place situated between the two. 

وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَارُهُمْ تِلْقَاءَ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ {7:47}

[Q7:47] Wa izaa surifat absaaruhum tilqaaa'a Ashaabin Naari qaalo Rabbanaa laa taj'alnaa ma'al qawmiz zaalimneen. 
[Q7:47] And when their eyes shall be turned towards the inmates of the fire, they shall say: Our Lord! Place us not with the unjust.

[Q7:47] Dan apabila dialihkan pandangan mereka ke arah ahli Neraka, mereka (berdoa dengan) berkata: Wahai Tuhan kami! Janganlah Engkau jadikan kami bersama orang-orang yang zalim.  

(see commentary for verse 46)

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(7:47) And when the eyes of the people of the Heights will be turned towards the people of Hell they will say: 'Our Lord! Do not cast us among the wrongdoing people.'

SECTION 6

The Disappointment of the wicked in Hell

     The fate of the wicked and their disappointment in hell.

وَنَادَىٰ أَصْحَابُ الْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالًا يَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِسِيمَاهُمْ قَالُوا مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ {7:48}

[Q7:48] Wa naadaaa Ashaabul A'raffi rijaalany ya'rifoonahum biseemaahum qaaloo maaa aghnaa 'ankum jam'ukum wa maa kuntum tastakbiroon. 
[Q7:48] And the dwellers of the most elevated places shall call out to men whom they will recognize by their marks saying: Of no avail were to you your amassings and your behaving haughtily: 

[Q7:48] Dan orang-orang yang berada di atas tembok Al-A'raaf menyeru beberapa orang (Ketua kaum kafir) yang mereka kenal dengan tandanya, dengan berkata: Nampaknya kumpulan kamu yang ramai (atau kekayaan kamu yang besar) dan juga segala apa yang kamu sombongkan dahulu tidak dapat menolong kamu. 

(see commentary for verse 46)

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(7:48) And the people of the Heights will cry out to the men whom they would recognize by their marks saving: 'Neither your numbers nor the riches of which you were proud availed you.

أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمْتُمْ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ ۚ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا أَنْتُمْ تَحْزَنُونَ {7:49}

[Q7:49] A haaa'ulaaa'il lazeena aqsamtum laa yanaaluhumul laahu birahma; udkhulul Jannata laa khawfun 'alaikum wa laaa antum tahzanoon. 
[Q7:49] Are these they about whom you swore that ALLAH (SWT) will not bestow mercy on them? Enter the garden; you shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve.

[Q7:49] (Mereka bertanya pula kepada ketua-ketua kaum kafir itu dengan berkata): Itukah orang-orang yang kamu ejek-ejek dahulu dan kamu bersumpah bahawa mereka tidak akan beroleh rahmat dari ALLAH (SwT)? (Sekarang dikatakan kepada mereka): Masuklah kamu ke dalam Syurga, tidak ada kebimbangan (dari berlakunya sesuatu yang tidak baik) terhadap kamu dan kamu pula tidak akan berdukacita. 

THE MEN OF THE HEIGHTS (A’RAF) will point out men like Salman, Ammar, Abu Dharr and Bilal to the inmates of fire and ask: "Are these not the men whom you swore that ALLAH (SWT) would never bless them with His mercy?" Then to them ALLAH (SWT) will say: "Enter you the garden; no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve."

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(7:49) Are these not the ones of whom you swore that Allah shall grant them nothing of His mercy?' To such it will be said: 'Enter Paradise. You have no cause to fear, nor shall you grieve.'

وَنَادَىٰ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ {7:50}

[Q7:50] Wa naadaaa Ashaabun Naari Ashaabal jannati an afeedoo 'alainaa minal maaa'i aw mimma razaqakumul laah; qaaloo innal laaha harrama humaa 'alal kaafireen.
[Q7:50] And the inmates of the fire shall call out to the dwellers of the garden, saying: Pour on us some water or of that which ALLAH (SWT) has given you. They shall say: Surely ALLAH (SWT) has prohibited them both to the unbelievers.

[Q7:50] Dan (Tuhan menerangkan pula kehinaan ahli Neraka dengan firmannya): Ahli Neraka menyeru ahli Syurga (dengan berkata): Limpahkanlah kepada kami sedikit dari air atau dari rezeki (makanan) yang telah dikurniakan ALLAH (SwT) kepada kamu. Mereka (ahli Syurga) menjawab: Sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) telah haramkan kedua-duanya atas orang-orang kafir.

THE DWELLERS OF PARADISE will have ALLAH(swt)'s mercy and his pleasure. They will enjoy the bliss of ALLAH (swt)'s nearness. The provision, ALLAH (SWT) gives to the believers in return of their true faith (belief in ALLAH (SWT), the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and his Ahlul Bayt) and the good deeds they did in accordance with their teachings are not transferable. The inmates of hell shall remain deprived of these provisions.

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(7:50) And the people of the Fire will cry out to the people of Paradise: 'Pour out some water on us or throw at us something of what Allah has bestowed upon you.' They will reply: 'Allah has forbidden them to the deniers of the truth,