(66–73) “Are they awaiting anything but the Hour, which will come upon them suddenly while they are unaware? Close friends on that Day will be enemies to one another, except the righteous. O My servants, there will be no fear for you today, nor will you grieve—you who believed in Our signs and were Muslims. Enter Paradise, you and your spouses, rejoicing. Platters of gold and cups will be passed around among them. There will be whatever souls desire and eyes delight in, and you will remain there forever. This is the Paradise you have been made to inherit because of what you used to do. Therein you will have abundant fruit, from which you will eat.”
Allah Most High says: What are the deniers waiting for? Do they expect anything but “the Hour, which will come upon them suddenly while they are unaware”? When it comes, do not ask what will become of those who denied it and mocked the one who brought news of it.
On that Day—that is, the Day of Resurrection—close friends who befriended one another upon disbelief, denial, and disobedience to Allah will be “enemies to one another.” Their friendship and love in this world were for other than Allah, so on the Day of Resurrection they will turn into enmity. This excludes “the righteous,” who guarded themselves against idolatry and sins. Their love will endure and remain, for the One for whose sake they loved is everlasting. Allah Most High then mentions the reward of the righteous and states that, on the Day of Resurrection, He will call to them with words that gladden their hearts and remove every affliction and evil from them. He will say: “O My servants, there will be no fear for you today, nor will you grieve.”
That is, no fear will befall you concerning what lies ahead, nor will grief afflict you over what has passed. When everything undesirable has been removed in every respect, everything loved and desired is assured.
“You who believed in Our signs and were Muslims.” They are described as believing in Allah’s signs. This encompasses affirming them and everything without which that affirmation would be incomplete: understanding their meanings and acting in accordance with them. They “were Muslims,” submitting to Allah and obeying Him in all their circumstances. They thus combined outward and inward deeds.
“Enter Paradise,” the everlasting abode, “you and your spouses”—that is, everyone associated with you who performed deeds like yours, including wives, children, companions, and others—“rejoicing.” That is, you will enjoy bliss and be honored, and such goodness, joy, happiness, and pleasure will come to you from your Lord’s bounty that no tongue can describe it.
“Platters of gold and cups will be passed around among them.” Their servants—the eternally youthful boys—will circulate among them, serving their food in the finest and most splendid vessels: platters of gold. Their drinks will be served in the most delicate vessels: cups without handles, made of silver so pure that they are clearer than glass.
“There will be”—in Paradise—“whatever souls desire and eyes delight in.” This comprehensive wording embraces every bliss, happiness, delight of the eye, and joy of the heart. Everything souls desire—food, drink, clothing, and marital pleasures—and everything that delights the eyes—beautiful sights, surrounding trees, splendid blessings, and ornate buildings—will be present there, prepared for its inhabitants in the most complete and excellent manner. Allah Most High likewise says: “They will have fruit therein and whatever they request.” “And you will remain there forever.” This completes the bliss of the people of Paradise: they will abide there eternally, which means that their bliss will endure and increase without ever ending.
“This is the Paradise,” described by the most perfect attributes, “which you have been made to inherit because of what you used to do.” That is, Allah has given it to you as an inheritance because of your deeds, and by His grace He has made it their reward and endowed it with such mercy as He willed.
[“Therein you will have abundant fruit,” as in the other verse: “In both will be two kinds of every fruit.” “From it you will eat”—that is, you will eat whichever you choose of those delectable fruits ⦗770⦘ and delicious produce.] (1) After mentioning the bliss of Paradise, He followed it by mentioning the punishment of Hell, saying: