Explanation of Qur'anic verses (25: 63-76)
25-10-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I have another question. Could you please explain in detail the qualities of "Ibaadur-Rahman" (servants of the Most Merciful) as stated in Surat al-Furqaan, Ayah: 63-77 and also please explain "Ghurfah" (the chamber) in Paradise, what have our earlier scholars especially Imaam Al-Qurtubi said about this chamber?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Allaah has stated a number of the qualities of the servants of The Most Merciful in Surat Al-Furqaan, verses 63-76 [25:63-76].
We mention these qualities in order and in brief, as details could be found in the books of interpretation of the Qur'an.
a) Walking humbly without any pride or arrogance, this is what is meant by the saying of Allaah (interpretation of meaning): {And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility and sedateness}.
b) Forgiving foolish persons: If a foolish person addresses them with bad words they do not respond in a similar way, rather they forgive them and reconcile with them saying good words. This is what is meant by the saying of Allaah (interpretation of meaning): {And when the ignorant address them [harshly] they say [words of] peace (they reply back with mild words of gentleness)}.
c) They perform optional night prayers, bowing and prostrating; this is what is meant by the saying of Allaah (interpretation of meaning): {And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]}.
d) They ask Allaah in their prayers and supplications to avert from them the punishment of Hell-fire, Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {And those who say, “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering.}, meaning it adheres like the creditor keeps adhering to the debtor.
e) Being moderate when spending money; they are neither extravagant, spending more than what is necessary, nor being stingy when spending on their wives and children there by transgressing their rights, but are just and moderate between the two. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate}.
f) Worshipping Allaah Alone and not associating with Him any partner, not an angel, not a Prophet, nor a pious person. Their worship is wholly dedicated to Allaah Alone. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity}.
g) They do not kill a soul which Allaah has forbidden to kill except by Islamic right, such as one who apostates after believing, commits adultery after being married, or kills a person unjustifiably. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {…nor kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right}.
h) They do not commit adultery (or fornication) which is a major great sin, but rather lower their gaze, so they are chaste and pure. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {…and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse}.
i) They do not testify to falsehood or attend wrong worship, like the worship of other than Allaah and the celebration of non-Muslims, idle talk, sitting with a bad company, singing, testifying to falsehood, and so on. They are far away from every kind of evil, this is what is meant by the saying of Allaah (interpretation of meaning): {And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood}; and if they pass near it without intending it, they do not indulge and elaborate on it, but {…and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.}.
j) If they are reminded with the Qur'an and its lessons, they benefit from it greatly, and thus become more fearful of Allaah, and increase in faith, and are not like the polytheists or hypocrites who when they listen to the Qur'an they are like deaf people who cannot hear, and blind people who cannot see. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind.}.
k) They ask Allaah to grant them offspring who would worship Him Alone and not associate any partner with Him, and to comfort their eyes with the righteousness of their wives and children, and ask Allaah to make them leaders whom people would imitate regarding their goodness and piety. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us a leader [i.e. example] for the righteous"}.
Then Allaah says about those who have these qualities, (interpretation of meaning): {Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace, Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence}[Al-Furqaan: 76]. Imaam Al-Qurtubi
interpreted the Chamber to mean: 'The most elevated and best portion of interpreted it to mean
Allaah knows best.