Araf 42-43 | aamsaafanquran's Blog

Araf 42-43

42- AS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND DO GOOD DEEDS; WE DO NOT DEMAND FROM A SOUL MORE THAN WHAT IT CAN BEAR, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE PARADISE, WHERE THEY WILL ABIDE FOREVER.

43- AND WE REMOVED ALL GRUDGE FROM THEIR CHESTS, WITH RIVERS FLOWING UNDERNEATH THEM, AND THEY SAID: “THANKS AND PRAISE TO ALLAH WHO GUIDED US TO THIS, AND WE WERE NOT TO BE GUIDED HAD HE NOT GUIDED US; INDEED OUR LORD’S MESSENGERS CAME TO US WITH THE TRUTH".

Allah the Highest is reassuring the believers that He knows what everyone can or cannot do, and in His Justice and Mercy will not demand from any soul more than what it can do.  This meaning is also said in the last Ayah of Sorah Al-Baqarah: “ALLAH DOES NOT PRESCRIBE FOR A SOUL EXCEPT WHAT IT CAN BEAR.  TO HER CREDIT WHAT IT HAS EARNED AND UPON IT WHAT IT HAS EARNED”.  (S: 2 A: 286)

When Allah the Highest sent down: “YOU WHO BELIEVE; GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AND BE PIOUS AS YOU OUGHT TO, AND DO NOT DIE AS ANYTHING BUT MUSLIMS”.  (S: 3 A: 102)

The Muslims were worried and fearful as they felt that they will never be as pious as Allah the Highest wanted them to be, then Allah the Highest sent down: “AND BE PIOUS AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, AND LISTEN AND OBEY”.  (S: 64 A: 16)

When the believers do good deeds, each according to what Allah the Highest endowed us with of wealth, mental or physical ability, craft etc, will be rewarded with the Paradise.  One just has to believe in and worship Allah the Highest and be useful to others. 

Then Allah the Highest tells us about the Psychological and emotional state of those in Paradise.  They will not have any negative feelings or emotions such as grudge, anger, hatred, jealousy, envy, sadness, or grief.  They will have total inner peace and serenity.  This gift is enough for anyone’s life to be happy.  However, there is a great deal more, there are beautiful gardens with rivers of water, milk and honey; beautiful homes and wives, and more and more.

Enjoying all of the above and more, the believers will not forget to thank and praise Allah the Highest for guiding them and for sending the prophets and messengers and books to guide them.

We should remember to thank Allah the Highest in this life as well, for we enjoy the great bounty of being rightly guided through Allah’s messenger and Book, the Quran and as He said: “AND YOUR LORD DECREED THAT; IF YOU GIVE THANKS, I WILL GIVE YOU MORE”.  (S: 14 A: 7)

Allah the Highest tells us that the Paradise is the reward for the believers who do good deeds in this life.  They should remember however that no one has a right to enter Paradise, but it is only through Allah’s Mercy and Bounty that we may be admitted.  Allah’s messenger prayer and Peace upon him said: “None of you will enter Paradise through his deeds only”.  They said: “Not even you Allah’s messenger?”  He said: “Not even me, unless Allah embraces me with His Mercy and Bounty”.  (Muslim)

We should work in this life to gain Allah’s Mercy, without which we will never be able to enter His Paradise.