سُوْرَةُ الْحَدِيْدِ
Surah Al-Hadid (57) — Ayah 21
سَابِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord (Allâh), and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allâh and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allâh which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allâh is the Owner of Great Bounty.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
سَابِقُوٓا۟
sābiqū
Race
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
مَغْفِرَةٍۢ
maghfiratin
(the) forgiveness
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّكُمْ
rabbikum
your Lord
وَجَنَّةٍ
wajannatin
and a Garden
عَرْضُهَا
ʿarḍuhā
its width
كَعَرْضِ
kaʿarḍi
(is) like (the) width
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
(of) the heaven
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
أُعِدَّتْ
uʿiddat
prepared
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ
warusulihi
and His Messengers
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
فَضْلُ
faḍlu
(is the) Bounty
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
يُؤْتِيهِ
yu'tīhi
He gives
مَن
man
(to) whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
ذُو
dhū
(is) the Possessor of Bounty
ٱلْفَضْلِ
l-faḍli
(is) the Possessor of Bounty
ٱلْعَظِيمِ
l-ʿaẓīmi
the Great
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. Race with one another towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as wide as the width of the heaven and the earth [36], prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messenger. That is the bounty of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty [37].
[36]
The Vastness of Paradise:
Here it is stated that the width of Paradise is equal to the width of the heaven and the earth, and in Surah Al-Imran, verse 133, it is stated that the width of Paradise is equal to the width of all the heavens and the earth. Whereas, even the distance from one heaven to another is millions of miles. This makes it clear that the purpose here is not to specify the area of Paradise, but rather these words are used figuratively, and the intention is only to give an idea of the vastness of Paradise. That is, you can see the earth and the heavens, but Paradise will be much greater than all these heavens and the earth. Therefore, instead of striving for the world, you should strive to attain it. And if you sincerely obey Allah and His Messenger, Allah will forgive your sins and mistakes and will grant you such a vast and immense Paradise. As for the question of whether the vastness of Paradise mentioned here will be the right of all the people of Paradise, or whether each person of Paradise will receive such a vast Paradise, it is known from investigation that each person of Paradise will have a specific residence, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw the palace of Sayyiduna Umar ؓ in Paradise on the night of Mi'raj. However, in terms of sightseeing and recreation, every person of Paradise will be able to go wherever he wishes in such a vast Paradise. And in this coming and going, he will face no difficulty, nor will he need vehicles or airplanes.
[37]
Paradise Will Be Attained Only by Allah’s Mercy:
This subject has already been mentioned at several places before, that Paradise will not be given to anyone as a reward for his deeds, but only by the grace and mercy of Allah. The most that can be the reward for righteous deeds is that one is saved from the punishment of Hell, and even this is not a small matter, but a great success. Thus, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that no one's deeds can take him to Paradise." The Companions رضی اللہ عنہم asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Will your deeds not take you to Paradise either?" He replied, "Yes, my deeds will not take me to Paradise either, unless Allah covers me with His grace and His mercy." [بخاری۔ کتاب المرضیٰ۔ باب تمنی المریض الموت]
[36]
The Vastness of Paradise:
Here it is stated that the width of Paradise is equal to the width of the heaven and the earth, and in Surah Al-Imran, verse 133, it is stated that the width of Paradise is equal to the width of all the heavens and the earth. Whereas, even the distance from one heaven to another is millions of miles. This makes it clear that the purpose here is not to specify the area of Paradise, but rather these words are used figuratively, and the intention is only to give an idea of the vastness of Paradise. That is, you can see the earth and the heavens, but Paradise will be much greater than all these heavens and the earth. Therefore, instead of striving for the world, you should strive to attain it. And if you sincerely obey Allah and His Messenger, Allah will forgive your sins and mistakes and will grant you such a vast and immense Paradise. As for the question of whether the vastness of Paradise mentioned here will be the right of all the people of Paradise, or whether each person of Paradise will receive such a vast Paradise, it is known from investigation that each person of Paradise will have a specific residence, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw the palace of Sayyiduna Umar ؓ in Paradise on the night of Mi'raj. However, in terms of sightseeing and recreation, every person of Paradise will be able to go wherever he wishes in such a vast Paradise. And in this coming and going, he will face no difficulty, nor will he need vehicles or airplanes.
[37]
Paradise Will Be Attained Only by Allah’s Mercy:
This subject has already been mentioned at several places before, that Paradise will not be given to anyone as a reward for his deeds, but only by the grace and mercy of Allah. The most that can be the reward for righteous deeds is that one is saved from the punishment of Hell, and even this is not a small matter, but a great success. Thus, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that no one's deeds can take him to Paradise." The Companions رضی اللہ عنہم asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Will your deeds not take you to Paradise either?" He replied, "Yes, my deeds will not take me to Paradise either, unless Allah covers me with His grace and His mercy." [بخاری۔ کتاب المرضیٰ۔ باب تمنی المریض الموت]
