Overview (Verses 30 - 34)

A Perfect Contrast

On the other side stand the God-fearing. Their picture contrasts fully with that of the arrogant unbelievers, in origin and destiny: But when the God fearing are asked: ‘What has your Lord revealed?’ they say: All that is good.’ For those who do good in this world, good reward [is assured]; but far better is their abode in the hereafter. Blessed is the dwelling place of the God fearing. The Gardens of Eden they will enter; through which running waters flow. There they shall have everything they desire. Thus shall God reward the God fearing; those whom the angels gather in death while they are in a state of purity, saying: ‘Peace be upon you! Enter paradise by virtue of what you were doing [in life.]’ (Verses 30-32)

The God-fearing realize that the very essence of the divine message and all that God has revealed of directives, commandments and laws is good and perfect. Hence when they are questioned about what God has revealed from on high, they sum it up in a word: “All that is good.” They go on to outline this good that God has revealed, according to what they have learnt from God’s revelations: “For those who do good in this world, good reward is assured.” (Verse 30) They enjoy a good life and have a good position. However, “Far better is their abode in the hereafter.” It is certainly better than all there is in this present life. “Blessed is the dwelling place of the God-fearing.” (Verse 30) More details are now given about this abode of the hereafter, which is shown to be a goodly one indeed: “The Gardens of Eden they will enter, through which running waters flow.” (Verse 31) In such a place and with such resources they have comforts and luxuries in abundance. “There they shall have everything they desire.” (Verse 31) They will want for nothing. Every good thing is provided without any limit on what God grants them. “Thus shall God reward the God-fearing.” (Verse 31)

Again the sūrah takes a step backwards to show the God-fearing believers as they are about to die. It is an easy scene, as they are comforted by the angels: “Those whom the angels gather in death while they are in a state of purity.” (Verse 32) They are in a comfortable, pure condition, looking forward to meeting God, having nothing to fear. The angels greet them: “Peace be upon you!” (Verse 32) This is a greeting of welcome and reassurance. They follow this by delivering the happiest news of all: “Enter paradise by virtue of what you were doing [in life].” (Verse 32)

At the end of this scene with its two aspects of death and resurrection, the sūrah queries what the idolaters of the Quraysh are waiting for? Are they waiting for the angels to gather their souls, or for God’s command to resurrect them? For this is what happens to them on death and then on the day when resurrection takes place by God’s command. Yet they have a clear lesson in what happened to earlier communities. They have been shown two images delineating what happens to both parties:

Are they [who disbelieve] awaiting anything but for the angels to appear before them, or for your Lord’s command to come? Those before them did the same. It was not God who wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves. The evil consequences of their misdeeds overtook them, and they were overwhelmed by the very thing they used to deride. (Verses 33-34)

The attitude of human beings is amazing. They see what happened to people of earlier generations who followed the same course they follow. But they do not take heed. They do not believe that what happened to earlier communities can happen to them. They do not realize that the laws of nature operate in accordance with a well defined pattern, and that premises lead to their natural conclusions, actions receive their just reward, and God’s law will not be suspended to appease anyone.

“It was not God who wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.” (Verse 33) God has given them the freedom of thought and choice. He has shown them all His signs placed in the universe around them and within their own souls, warning them against the consequences of their actions. He then left them to choose, and to bear the consequences of their own doings in accordance with His laws. Thus He has not wronged them in any way. Their fate is a case of action rebounding on the perpetrator.

Indeed God does not inflict too severe a punishment on them. Instead, their own misdeeds were severe, and it is these they have to endure the natural consequences of: “The evil consequences of their misdeeds overtook them, and they were overwhelmed by the very thing they used to deride.” (Verse 34) This verse and similar ones are very significant. People are not punished with anything other than the natural consequences of their own actions. These are the very things which sink them to a degree lower than that of human beings. Hence they are punished with something lower than what is fitting for humans. They endure a humiliating abode and painful suffering.