(100) “The foremost—the first among the Emigrants and the Helpers—and those who followed them ⦗350⦘ with excellence: Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. That is the supreme triumph.”

The foremost are those who were the first of this ummah and took the lead in faith, emigration, jihad, and establishing Allah’s religion.

Among “the Emigrants” are “those who were driven from their homes and their wealth, seeking bounty from Allah and His pleasure and supporting Allah and His Messenger. It is they who are truthful.”

And among “the Helpers” are “those who settled in the Home and embraced faith [before them]. They love those who emigrated to them, feel no desire in their hearts for what the emigrants have been given, and give them preference over themselves even though they themselves are in need.”

“And those who followed them with excellence” in beliefs, words, and deeds—these are the ones who escaped censure and attained the highest praise and the finest honors from Allah.

“Allah is pleased with them.” His pleasure, exalted is He, is greater than the bliss of Paradise. “And they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow”—flowing rivers channeled to irrigate the gardens, radiant flowering orchards, and verdant meadows.

“Abiding therein forever”: they will neither desire to leave it nor seek any substitute for it, for whatever they wish for they will attain, and whatever they desire they will find.

“That is the supreme triumph,” through which they gain everything souls love, every delight of spirits, every joy of hearts, and every pleasure of bodies, while every feared harm is kept from them.