Surah al-A`raf (The Elevated Places) 7 : 42

Overview (Verses 42 - 43)

A Scene in Contrast

Let us now look at the opposite scene: “As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, We never burden a soul with more than it can bear. They are destined for paradise, where they will abide. We shall remove any rancour that may be lingering in their hearts. Running waters will flow at their feet; and they will say: All praise is due to God who has guided us to this. Had He not given us guidance, we would certainly have not found the right path. Our Lord’s messengers have certainly brought us the truth.’ (A voice) will call out to them: ‘This is the paradise you have inherited by virtue of what you used to do.’” (Verses 42-43)

Here we have a description of the destiny of those who believe and do righteous deeds as best they can. These return to paradise, because they are, by God’s grace, its rightful owners. He has granted it to them as a reward for their good deeds which are motivated by faith. It is they who followed God’s messengers, obeyed the commandments of their Lord, the Almighty, the Merciful and disobeyed Satan, their age- old enemy. Had it not been for God’s grace, their actions would not have been sufficient, considering their limited ability. The Prophet says in an authentic ĥadīth related by Muslim: “No one of you will be admitted into heaven by virtue of his action.” His companions asked: “Not even you, Messenger of God?” He replied: “Not even me, unless God bestows His mercy and grace on me."

There is no contradiction or discrepancy between what God says in this regard and what is stated in this ĥadīth by His Messenger, who does not say anything related to religion on his own initiative. All scholastic debate that has taken place among Islamic schools of thought concerning this question did not rely on an accurate understanding of this religion. God knows that human beings are too weak to earn admittance into heaven by virtue of their own actions. Indeed, whatever they do is insufficient to repay for a single aspect of His grace which God bestows on them in this life on earth. Therefore, He has committed Himself to bestow His mercy on them and accept from them their meagre efforts and give them heaven as a reward, but only through His grace. Thus they earn it by their action combined with God’s mercy and grace.

In contrast to the scene of mutual hatred surfacing among the evildoers in hell, even against their former close and intimate friends, we see the believers demonstrating their perfect love for one another in heaven. They are brethren who harbour no ill-feeling to anyone. They enjoy perfect peace and bliss: “We shall remove any rancour that may be lingering in their hearts.” (Verse 43) They are only human, and they lived the life of human beings. In this life on earth they may have had some disagreements and disputes that brought about ill-feeling. As believers, they tried hard to overcome these feelings and allowed their brotherhood to predominate. Nevertheless, there might have remained some lingering traces of rancour.

Al-Qurţubī, a leading commentator on the Qur’ān, says: “God’s messenger (peace be upon him) says: `Rancour stays at the doorstep of heaven just like camels are seated outside people’s dwellings. God removes it from believers’ hearts.’ It is also reported that Alī said: `I hope that `Uthmān, Ţalĥah, al-Zubayr and myself are among those about whom God says: “We shall remove any rancour that may be lingering in their hearts.”

As already stated, the people of hell are engulfed by fire that overwhelms them from above and beneath. By contrast, the people of heaven have running waters which give an air of freshness to the whole scene: “Running waters will flow at their feet.” (Verse 43). While the former group is always quarrelling and exchanging accusations, the people of heaven praise God and acknowledge their own shortcomings: “They will say: ‘All praise is due to God who has guided us to this. Had He not given us guidance, we would certainly have not found the right path. Our Lord’s messengers have certainly brought us the truth.’” (Verse 43).

The former group is strongly rebuked and told: “Enter into the fire to join the hosts of the jinn and humans who have gone before you.” (Verse 38). The latter are addressed with respect and given a warm welcome: “A voice will call out to them: ‘This is the paradise you have inherited by virtue of what you used to do’.” (Verse 43)