his good deeds, or one who has no good deeds at all, such as an unbeliever. Allah Most High says: ﴿Then as for one whose scales are heavy, he will enjoy a pleasant life.﴾ The noun translated as “life,” īshah, is derived from aysh, meaning life. One says, “The man lived for a long time,” meaning that he remained alive for a long time.

The word īshah here follows the pattern fi'lah and therefore denotes a state or manner rather than a verbal noun. The verbal noun denoting a single occurrence would be ayshah; when pronounced īshah, however, it follows the pattern fi'lah and denotes a state or manner. As Ibn Mālik—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

Fa'lah denotes one occurrence, as in jalsah (one sitting);
Fi'lah denotes a manner, as in jilsah (a way of sitting).

The meaning is that he will enjoy a good and pleasant life. Regarding ﴿pleasant﴾, some say that it is an active participle bearing a passive sense—that is, “pleasing.” Others say that it is an active participle used attributively—that is, “possessed of contentment.” Both interpretations amount to the same thing: it will be a good life containing no hardship, clamor, or weariness, complete in every respect. This refers to life in Paradise—may Allah make us among its people. In this life, no weariness will touch them there, nor will they ever be removed from it. They will neither grieve nor fear, but will enjoy the most blissful life, the greatest peace of mind, and the happiest state. It will indeed be a pleasant life.

﴿But as for one whose scales are light﴾, this may be an unbeliever who has no good deeds at all, for an unbeliever is recompensed for his good deeds in this world, and they do not benefit him in the Hereafter. Or it may be a Muslim who has been excessive in wrongdoing against himself, so that his evil deeds are more numerous.

﴿His refuge will be the Abyss.﴾ Here, umm (mother)—rendered “refuge”—means his intended destination: the Abyss is the destination toward which he is bound. The Abyss is one of the names of the Fire, meaning that his course leads to the Fire of Hell—we seek refuge in Allah.

Others say that umm here refers to the membrane enclosing the brain, meaning that he will be cast headfirst into the Fire. We ask Allah for safety. When a verse can bear two meanings, neither of which is more likely than the other, and the two do not conflict, both meanings are accepted. Thus, it may be said that he will be cast headfirst into the Fire and that he will have no refuge or destination other than the Fire.