“Those who believe and do righteous deeds—for them is blessedness and a good return.” (29)

“Those who believe and do righteous deeds” is the subject, and “for them is blessedness” is its predicate.

The scholars differed regarding the interpretation of “blessedness.” (1)

It is reported from Ibn Abbas: “Joy and delight of the eye are theirs.”

Ikrimah said: “How excellent is their wealth.”

Qatadah said: “Goodness is theirs.”

Mamar reported from Qatadah: “This is an Arabic expression. A man says to another, ‘Blessedness be yours,’ meaning: ‘You have attained goodness.’”

Ibrahim said: “Goodness and honor are theirs.”

Al-Farra said: “Its origin is from what is wholesome; the waw occurs in it because the ta is vowelled with dammah. It has two forms in Arabic: the Arabs say, ‘Blessedness be yours,’ and ‘Blessedness is yours’—that is, wholesomeness belongs to them.” (2)

“And a good return,” meaning, a good destination.

Said ibn Jubayr reported from Ibn Abbas: “Tuba is the name of Paradise in the Ethiopian language.”

Al-Rabi said: “It means ‘garden’ in the language of India.”

It is reported from Abu Umamah, Abu Hurayrah, and Abu al-Darda that they said: “Tuba is a tree in Paradise whose shade covers all the gardens.” Ubayd ibn Umayr said: “It is a tree in the Garden of Eden, its root being in the dwelling of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. In every house and chamber there is a branch of it. Allah has not created any color or flower except that it is found therein, apart from black; nor has Allah Most High created any fruit except that it is found therein. Two springs flow from its root: camphor and salsabil.” (3)

Muqatil said: “Every leaf of it provides shade for an entire community, and upon each leaf is an angel glorifying Allah, the Exalted, with various forms of glorification.” (4)