Al-Layl: (21) And he will soon be satisfied

"And he will soon be satisfied" is the response to an implicit oath; that is, "And by Allah, he will soon be satisfied." The pronoun here refers to the most righteous (al-atqa), who is the subject being discussed. It is a generous promise of attaining everything he desires in the most complete and beautiful manner, for in this, satisfaction is realized.

The Imam allowed for the possibility that the pronoun refers to the Lord, Exalted be He, as he said after interpreting the sentence as referring back to the most righteous: "In it, according to me, is another aspect, which is that the intended meaning is that he did not spend except to seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty, and so Allah Almighty will soon be pleased with him. In my view, this is greater than the first, because the pleasure of Allah, Glorified be He, with His servant is more perfect for the servant than the servant's satisfaction with his Lord, Mighty and Majestic is He." In sum, both matters must inevitably occur, as the Exalted has said: "Well-pleased [with Him] and He well-pleased [with them]."

The apparent meaning is the first. It has been recited as wa la-sawfa yurda (in the passive voice, signifying "he will be caused to be satisfied"). What the Imam pointed to—the meaning of "well-pleased and well-pleasing"—is not definitive, as you have heard. There is discussion regarding this sentence which will be known from what is to come shortly, if Allah Almighty wills.