(106–108) “On the Day when some faces will become radiant and others darkened, those whose faces have become darkened will be told, ‘Did you disbelieve after having believed? Then taste the punishment for your disbelief.’ As for those whose faces have become radiant, they will be in Allah’s mercy, remaining therein forever. These are Allah’s verses, which We recite to you in truth. Allah desires no injustice for any of His creation.”
Allah Most High informs us of the state of affairs on the Day of Resurrection and the manifestations therein of recompense through justice and grace. This contains both encouragement and warning, giving rise to fear and hope. He says: “On the Day when some faces will become radiant”—the faces of the blessed and righteous, those who were united and held fast to Allah’s rope—“and others darkened”—the faces of the wretched and wicked, those given to division and disagreement. Their faces will be darkened because of the disgrace, humiliation, abasement, and ignominy within their hearts. The faces of the others will become radiant because of the delight ⦗143⦘, joy, bliss, and happiness within their hearts, whose effects will appear upon their faces. As Allah Most High says: “And He will bestow upon them radiance and joy”—radiance upon their faces and joy within their hearts. He also says: “As for those who earned evil deeds, the recompense of an evil deed will be its like, and humiliation will overwhelm them. It will be as though their faces were covered with dark patches of night. They are the inhabitants of the Fire, remaining therein forever.”
“Those whose faces have become darkened” will be asked by way of rebuke and reprimand: “Did you disbelieve after having believed?” That is: How could you prefer disbelief and misguidance over faith and guidance? How could you abandon the path of sound guidance and follow the path of error? “Then taste the punishment for your disbelief.” Nothing befits you but the Fire, and you deserve nothing but disgrace, ignominy, and shame.
“As for those whose faces have become radiant,” they will receive the fullest congratulations and the greatest glad tidings: they will be given the glad tidings of admission into the Gardens and of their Lord’s pleasure and mercy. “They will be in Allah’s mercy, remaining therein forever.” Since they will abide forever in His mercy—and Paradise is one of the effects of His mercy, Most High—they will abide therein forever, enjoying its everlasting bliss and its wholesome life, in the presence of the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
After Allah had explained to His Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—His prescriptive rulings and His rulings concerning recompense, He said: “These are Allah’s verses, which We recite”—that is, recount—“to you in truth.” His commands and prohibitions embody wisdom and mercy, while their rewards and punishments likewise embody wisdom, mercy, and justice entirely free of wrongdoing. He therefore says: “Allah desires no injustice for any of His creation.” He denies even willing injustice against them, let alone actually committing it. Thus, He does not diminish anyone’s good deeds in the slightest, nor does He add anything to the evil deeds of wrongdoers; rather, He recompenses them solely according to their deeds. Then Allah Most High said: