Al-Qalam: (33) Thus is the Punishment...

Then the Almighty said: {Thus is the punishment} (33), meaning, just as We mentioned, the burning with fire.

~~Here ends the discussion concerning the story of the Companions of the Garden.

Know that the purpose of mentioning this story is twofold:

1. The Almighty said: {Indeed, he was a man of much wealth and many children * When there were recited to him Our verses, he said, "Legends of the former ones"} (Al-Qalam: 14, 15). The meaning is: Because he was given wealth and children, he disbelieved in God? No! Rather, God Almighty gave him that as a trial. When he turned that blessing toward disbelief, God destroyed it upon him. This is evidenced by the fact that when the Companions of the Garden committed this minor act of disobedience, God destroyed their garden. How much more severe would the situation be for one who stubbornly opposed the Messenger and persisted in disbelief, sin, and disobedience?

2. The Companions of the Garden went out intending to benefit from the garden and prevent the poor from it. So, God turned the matter against them. Similarly, when the people of Mecca went out to Badr, they swore to kill Muhammad and his companions. When they returned to Mecca, they circumambulated the Ka'bah and drank wine. God thwarted their expectations, and they were killed and taken captive, just like the people of this garden.

Then, after warning the disbelievers about the punishment in this world, He said: {And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew} (34). This is self-evident and requires no exegesis.

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Then, the Almighty mentioned the conditions of the fortunate ones, saying:

! 7 < {Indeed, for the righteous is a Garden near their Lord, with bounties} > 7

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