be upon you.”
They begin by greeting them with peace, which encompasses safety from every evil and harm: you are now safe, and from this day onward nothing you dislike will befall you. Then they say to them, “You are pure; so enter it, to remain forever.” That is, your safety and your admission to Paradise are due to your purity, for Allah has forbidden it to all but the pure. Thus they give them glad tidings of safety, purity, admission and everlasting residence.
As for the inhabitants of the Fire, when they reach it in that state of anxiety, distress and sorrow, its gates are opened for them, and they are made to stand before them. Added to their suffering are the reproaches and rebukes of its keepers, who say, “Did messengers not come to you from among yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?” They acknowledge this and say, “Yes.” The keepers then give them tidings of entering the Fire and remaining there forever—an evil dwelling and final destination for them.
Reflect on the words of the keepers of Paradise to its inhabitants, “Enter it,” and those of the keepers of the Fire to its inhabitants, “Enter the gates of Hell.” Beneath this distinction lies a subtle insight and a remarkable meaning, apparent to anyone who reflects. The Fire is the abode of punishment, and its gates are utterly terrifying, intensely hot and deeply distressing. Those who enter face punishment even worse than the gates themselves; by passing through them, they draw nearer to distress, disgrace, sorrow and anguish. Hence they are told, “Enter the gates of Hell,” to abase, humiliate and disgrace them. Then they are told: your punishment will not end with merely entering these dreadful gates; beyond them lies everlasting residence in the Fire.
[Surah al-Zumar (39): verse 75]
“You will see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. Judgment will be passed between them in truth, and it will be said, ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds.’” (75)
As for Paradise, it is the abode of honour, the dwelling Allah has prepared for His allies. Thus, from the very outset, they are given glad tidings of entering it, reaching its couches and dwellings, and remaining there forever.
39:75 “You will see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. Judgment will be passed between them in truth, and it will be said, ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds.’”
The speaker is left unspecified because no particular speaker is intended. Rather, everyone praises Him for the judgment He has passed. The heavens and the inhabitants of the earth praise Him: the righteous,