Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 16

(Ayah 16) ➊ The bringing forward of {لَهُمْ فِيْهَا مَا يَشَآءُوْنَ خٰلِدِيْنَ:’’ لَهُمْ ‘‘} and {’’ فِيْهَا ‘‘} implies exclusivity, meaning this blessing—that whatever one desires will be granted—is only for the righteous, and even for them, only in Paradise. In this world, neither the righteous nor the unrighteous have this blessing. In this world, everyone’s condition is as the poet has described:
{مَا كُلُّ مَا يَتَمَنَّي الْمَرْءُ يُدْرِكُهُ ¤ تَجْرِي الرِّيَاحُ بِمَا لَا تَشْتَهِي السُّفُنُ}
“It is not so that a person attains whatever he wishes, for the winds often blow contrary to the wishes of the ships.”
The same theme is mentioned in Surah Ha-Meem As-Sajdah, Ayah (31): « وَ لَكُمْ فِيْهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيْۤ اَنْفُسُكُمْ وَ لَكُمْ فِيْهَا مَا تَدَّعُوْنَ».

➋ Here a question is raised: When the people of Paradise will be given everything they desire, if they wish for the rank of the Prophets, will they also be granted that? The answer is that Allah will not place such a desire in their hearts; all will be content with their own occupations and will be free from envy and rivalry, happy with their own state, as He said: «{ اِنَّ اَصْحٰبَ الْجَنَّةِ الْيَوْمَ فِيْ شُغُلٍ فٰكِهُوْنَ }» [ یٰسٓ : ۵۵ ] “Indeed, the inhabitants of Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful occupation.” And the difference in ranks in Paradise is determined by Allah. Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ يَتَرَاءَ وْنَ أَهْلَ الْغُرَفِ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ كَمَا يَتَرَاءَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الدُّرِّيَّ الْغَابِرَ فِي الْأُفُقِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ أَوِ الْمَغْرِبِ لِتَفَاضُلِ مَا بَيْنَهُمْ ] [ بخاري، بدء الخلق، باب ما جاء في صفۃ الجنۃ … : ۳۲۵۶ ] “The people of Paradise will look at those in the upper chambers above them as you see a brilliant star on the far horizon in the east or west, due to the superiority of some over others in ranks.”

➌ { كَانَ عَلٰى رَبِّكَ وَعْدًا مَّسْـُٔوْلًا :} can have two meanings: one, that this promise is worthy of being asked from Allah to fulfill; or, it is a promise that will certainly be fulfilled upon request, as Allah has mentioned the supplication of the believers {’’ اُولُوا الْاَلْبَابِ ‘‘}, which they used to make: «{ رَبَّنَا وَ اٰتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَّنَا عَلٰى رُسُلِكَ وَ لَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ اِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيْعَادَ }» [آل عمران : ۱۹۴ ] “Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise.” Al-Tabari has narrated from some of the people of Arabic language that the meaning of {’’ وَعْدًا مَّسْـُٔوْلًا ‘‘} is {’’ وَعْدًا وَاجِبًا ‘‘}, because that which can be asked or demanded becomes obligatory, even if it is not actually demanded, such as a debt, as the Arabs say: {’’ لَأُعْطِيَنَّكَ أَلْفًا وَّعْدًا مَسْؤلًا‘‘} “I will give you a thousand; this is a promise that can be demanded,” meaning it is obligatory for you, and you can ask and demand it.

16-1. That is, such a promise which will certainly be fulfilled, just as a debt is demanded. In the same way, Allah has made this promise obligatory upon Himself, which the people of faith can demand from Him. It is merely His grace and mercy that He has made this good reward necessary for Himself for the believers.

There they will have whatever they desire, and they will abide there forever. This is a promise from your Lord that is always fulfilled [20].

[20] This is Allah’s definite promise to the believers and the pious that He will grant them Paradise. In this Paradise, whatever they desire will be provided to them, and they will abide therein forever. These are three components of a single promise, and regarding this promise, Muslims are being instructed to keep supplicating to Allah for it and to keep asking for Paradise. Just as Muslims have been taught this supplication: ﴿رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ﴾