Muhammad (12): Indeed, Allah admits...

After Allah Almighty clarified the state of the believers and the disbelievers in this world, He clarified their state in the Hereafter. He stated that He admits the believer into Paradise and the disbeliever into the Fire. In this verse, there are several issues:

Issue 1:

Allah often limits the description of Paradise to mentioning the rivers. This is because rivers lead to trees, and trees lead to fruits. Furthermore, rivers are the source of life in the world, whereas the Fire is the source of annihilation. For the believer, there is water to look at and benefit from, while the disbeliever is tossed about in the Fire and harmed by it.

Issue 2:

We have mentioned repeatedly that the preposition min (from/under) in the phrase ${\text{from under which the rivers flow}} can be interpreted in two ways:

1. It can be a silah (a particle indicating continuation), meaning the rivers flow beneath them.
2. It can mean that the water of the rivers originates from within Paradise itself, not flowing in from another place. If one asks about the source of a river, the answer would be: "From such-and-such spring, from under such-and-such mountain."

Issue 3:

He said, {\text{And those who disbelieve enjoy themselves}}. Why are they singled out for mention regarding enjoyment, even though the believer also enjoys the good things of this world?

We reply: If someone possesses a great kingdom and also owns a small possession, the mention of him is usually only made in relation to the great kingdom. For a great king, one might say, "He is the owner of such-and-such estate," and one who owns little is only mentioned by that small possession. Since the believer possesses the kingdom of Paradise, the enjoyment of this world is not worth mentioning in his case.

Another perspective: For the believer, this world is a prison, no matter how good its pleasures are. One who eats while in prison is not described as "enjoying himself."

If one asks: How can this world be a prison when it contains such good things? We reply: The believer has superior delights prepared for him in the Hereafter, and honored brethren. Their status, and the status of those in this world, can be illustrated by an example:

Imagine a man who has a garden filled with all kinds of delicious fruits, flowing rivers of pure water, and lofty dwellings and chambers, with his children residing there. He has been absent from them for years and is now heading towards them while they are there. As he approaches, he is detained in a thicket filled with sour fruits and murky water, infested with beasts and insects. Would his condition there be comparable to that of a prisoner in a dark well or a ruined house? Would it be appropriate to tell him, "Leave what is yours and content yourself with these fruits and these rivers"?

This is the state of the believer. As for the disbeliever, his state is like that of someone awaiting execution who endures a few days in that thicket we mentioned, thinking he is in a garden. The proportion of this world to Paradise and the Fire is less than the example given, but it hints to the discerning person about the reality of the situation.

And His saying, {\text{as cattle eat}} has several interpretations:

1. Cattle are concerned only with eating and nothing else, and so are the disbelievers. The believer eats only to perform righteous deeds and gain strength for them.
2. Cattle do not use what they eat as evidence to recognize their Creator, and neither do the disbelievers.
3. Cattle are fattened for slaughter, heedless of the matter, not knowing that the fatter they become, the closer they are to slaughter and destruction. Likewise is the disbeliever. This aligns with His saying: {\text{And the Fire is their ultimate abode}}.

Issue 4:

Regarding the believer, Allah said, {\text{Indeed, Allah admits}} (using the form of a promise). Regarding the disbeliever, He said, {\text{And the Fire is their ultimate abode}} (using a form indicating deservingness). This is because beneficence (reward) does not necessarily stem from deservingness; a benefactor towards someone who has not earned it is generous. However, punishing someone without deserving it is unjust.

Verse 13:

{\text{And how many a town stronger than your town which expelled you—We destroyed them, and there is no helper for them.}}$