سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 21
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
See how We prefer one above another (in this world), and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱنظُرْ
unẓur
See
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
فَضَّلْنَا
faḍḍalnā
We preferred
بَعْضَهُمْ
baʿḍahum
some of them
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
بَعْضٍۢ ۚ
baʿḍin
others
وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ
walalākhiratu
And surely the Hereafter
أَكْبَرُ
akbaru
(is) greater
دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ
darajātin
(in) degrees
وَأَكْبَرُ
wa-akbaru
and greater
تَفْضِيلًۭا
tafḍīlan
(in) excellence
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
21. See how We have given preference to some over others, but in the Hereafter, the ranks (of those who seek the Hereafter) will be greater and their excellence [21] will be much higher.
[21]
The Excellence of Character and Conduct is the True Excellence, Both in This World and the Hereafter:
This excellence can be in terms of wealth and riches, and also in terms of character and conduct. The excellence that is attained through wealth and riches, if it has any value, it is only in the eyes of those who seek the world. In fact, at times, it does not even have value in their eyes. But the excellence that is attained through character and conduct is the true and everlasting excellence and honor, and this excellence is only granted to those who seek the Hereafter, who fear Allah, who are obedient to Him, who do not deceive or cheat anyone, and who take care of everyone's rights. The value and worth of the excellence of such people is not only in the eyes of those who seek the Hereafter, but also in the eyes of those who seek the world. Then, in the Hereafter, the excellence and ranks that will be granted to these seekers of the Hereafter will be far greater and better than those of this world. And it is mentioned in the Sahihain that the distance between every level of Paradise is as much as that between the earth and the sky; the people of the lower level will look at those of the higher level as you look at the stars in the sky at night. [بخاری، کتاب الرقاق۔ باب صفۃ الجنۃ والنار]
[21]
The Excellence of Character and Conduct is the True Excellence, Both in This World and the Hereafter:
This excellence can be in terms of wealth and riches, and also in terms of character and conduct. The excellence that is attained through wealth and riches, if it has any value, it is only in the eyes of those who seek the world. In fact, at times, it does not even have value in their eyes. But the excellence that is attained through character and conduct is the true and everlasting excellence and honor, and this excellence is only granted to those who seek the Hereafter, who fear Allah, who are obedient to Him, who do not deceive or cheat anyone, and who take care of everyone's rights. The value and worth of the excellence of such people is not only in the eyes of those who seek the Hereafter, but also in the eyes of those who seek the world. Then, in the Hereafter, the excellence and ranks that will be granted to these seekers of the Hereafter will be far greater and better than those of this world. And it is mentioned in the Sahihain that the distance between every level of Paradise is as much as that between the earth and the sky; the people of the lower level will look at those of the higher level as you look at the stars in the sky at night. [بخاری، کتاب الرقاق۔ باب صفۃ الجنۃ والنار]
