Surah Ar-Rahmaan (55) — Ayah 46

(Ayah 46) ➊ { وَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ جَنَّتٰنِ: ’’ مَقَامَ ‘‘ ’’قَامَ يَقُوْمُ قِيَامًا‘‘} (ن) can be a noun of place or time as well, meaning "the place or time of standing," and it can also be a verbal noun (masdar mimi), meaning "standing." After mentioning Hell and the people of Hell, the people of Paradise are mentioned. {’’ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ ‘‘} can have two meanings, and both are found in the verses of the Qur'an: one is that whoever fears standing before his Lord, for him are two gardens. In this case, {’’ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ ‘‘} refers to the servant's standing before his Lord. This is supported by the verse: « يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ» [ المطففین : ۶ ] "The Day when people will stand before the Lord of the worlds." The second meaning is that whoever fears his Lord being ever watchful (over him). This meaning is supported by the verse: « اَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَآىِٕمٌ عَلٰى كُلِّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ » [ الرعد : ۳۳ ] "Is He (not best) Who watches over every soul for what it has earned?" Both meanings can be intended simultaneously from the verse, and this is also one of the excellences of the Qur'an, that each of its words carries multiple meanings. That is, whoever fears the fact that he will have to stand before his Lord on the Day of Resurrection, and also fears that his Lord is watching every small and big action of his, for him are two gardens. This makes clear that the basis for inheriting Paradise is the fear of Allah, because this is the essence that keeps a person steadfast on the straight path and saves him from disobeying Allah. If this is absent, then when the opportunity arises, nothing can prevent a person from committing any crime, and when it is present, a person's steps do not falter even in the most difficult situations. In Sahih Bukhari (660), the seven people who will be granted the shade of the Throne on the Day of Resurrection—all their deeds are rooted in the fear of Allah, and the forgiveness of the shroud thief was also due to the fear of Allah, who had instructed that he be burned and some of his ashes be scattered in the air and some in the water. (See Bukhari: 3452) In the word {’’ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ ‘‘}, along with fear, the aspect of love is also prominent, that he is not fearing a stranger or an oppressor, but his Master, who created him, then nurtures him every moment, and fulfills all his needs.

➋ The original meaning of { جَنَّتٰنِ: ’’جَنَّةٌ‘‘} is "garden." In the Qur'an, sometimes this word appears in the singular, and the entry of all the believers into a single Paradise is mentioned, as He said: « وَ مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ اَوْ اُنْثٰى وَ هُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَاُولٰٓىِٕكَ يَدْخُلُوْنَ الْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُوْنَ فِيْهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ » [ المؤمن : ۴۰ ] "And whoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female, and is a believer, then these will enter Paradise, and will be provided therein without measure." And sometimes it appears in the plural, as He said: «وَ بَشِّرِ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ اَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنّٰتٍ تَجْرِيْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْاَنْهٰرُ » [ البقرۃ : ۲۵ ] "And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow." From this, it is understood that within this great garden are countless gardens, from which every believer will be granted two gardens, which he will own (the "lam" is for possession), and in which will be everything that is mentioned ahead.

➌ In these verses, it is mentioned that every person who fears standing before his Lord will be given two gardens. A few verses later, two more gardens are mentioned, as He said: «وَ مِنْ دُوْنِهِمَا جَنَّتٰنِ » which can mean that besides these two, there are also two more gardens, and also that there are two gardens of a lower rank than these two. If both verses are combined, the meaning is that besides these two, there are two other gardens which are of a lower rank than the first gardens. The correct view is that the first two gardens are superior and are for the Muqarrabun (those brought near), and the other two gardens are of a lower rank and are for the Companions of the Right (Ashab al-Yamin). In Surah Al-Waqi'ah as well, the Sabiqun are called Muqarrabun and the blessings they will receive are mentioned separately first, then the Companions of the Right are mentioned and the blessings they will receive are mentioned separately; here it is the same, and in almost every blessing, the difference between the two is clear, and the commentary is pointing towards this difference. Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, has mentioned in Sahih Bukhari the hadith that Abdullah bin Qais (Abu Musa Ash'ari), may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ جَنَّتَانِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ ، آنِيَتُهُمَا وَمَا فِيْهِمَا، وَجَنَّتَانِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ آنِيَتُهُمَا وَمَا فِيْهِمَا، وَمَا بَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ وَ بَيْنَ أَنْ يَّنْظُرُوْا إِلٰی رَبِّهِمْ إِلاَّ رِدَاءَ الْكِبْرِ عَلٰی وَجْهِهِ فِيْ جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ ] [ بخاری التفسیر، باب قولہ : « ومن دونھما جنتان » : ۴۸۷۸ ] "There are two gardens whose vessels and whatever is in them are of silver, and two gardens whose vessels and whatever is in them are of gold. And between the people and their seeing their Lord, in Paradise of Eden, there is nothing but the veil of Majesty over His Face." In Sahih Bukhari, its chain is as follows: {’’حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ بْنُ أَبِي الْأَسْوَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيْزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ الْعَمِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُوْ عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيُّ عَنْ أَبِيْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ عَنْ أَبِيْهِ أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ…۔‘‘} In Fath al-Bari (8/624), it is mentioned that Ibn Marduyah narrated this hadith (instead of Abdul Aziz) from {’’حَمَّادٌ عَنْ أَبِيْ عِمْرَانَ‘‘}, and in it are these words: [ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ لِلسَّابِقِيْنَ وَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ لِلتَّابِعِيْنَ ] meaning the gardens of gold will be for the Sabiqun and the gardens of silver for the Tabi'un. And in the narration of Thabit from Abu Bakr, these words are found: [ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ لِلْمُقَرَّبِيْنَ وَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ لِأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِيْنِ ] meaning the gardens of gold are for the Muqarrabun and the gardens of silver are for the Companions of the Right. From the various chains of this hadith, it is clear that the first two gardens are for the Muqarrabun and the other two gardens are for the Companions of the Right.