Tafsir of Al-Muddathir 74:40-41

Al-Muddaththir (74:40-41)

In Gardens, inquiring of one another

His saying, the Exalted: {In Gardens}

This means they are in Gardens whose description cannot be fully grasped.

Then His saying, the Exalted: {inquiring of one another}

Regarding this, there are two interpretations:

1. Interpretation 1: The word 'an (about/concerning) is an extra preposition (a silah za'idah). The meaning would then be: They inquire of the criminals, saying to them: "What has caused you to enter into Saqar (Hellfire)?" This is because it is said, "I asked him such-and-such" (sa'altuhu kadha), and it is also said, "I asked him about such-and-such" (sa'altuhu 'an kadha).

2. Interpretation 2: The meaning is that the Companions of the Right Hand (the righteous) ask each other about the state of the criminals.

• If it is objected: "If this is the case, shouldn't they have said: 'What has caused them to enter into Saqar?' (ma salak*ahum fi saqar*)"?
  • We reply: The author of Al-Kashshaf has answered this by saying: The intent here is that those being questioned (the righteous) relay to the questioners (also the righteous) what transpired between them and the criminals. Thus, they say: "We said to them: {What has caused you to enter into Saqar?}" (Al-Muddaththir: 42).

• There is another interpretation: It means the Companions of the Right Hand were asking each other, "Where are the criminals?" When they saw them, they said to them: {What has caused you to enter into Saqar?} (Al-Muddaththir: 42). Omissions and implied meanings (idmārāt) are frequent in the Qur'an.

{What has caused you to enter into Saqar?}

{They will say: We were not of those who prayed, Nor did we use to feed the poor, And we used to indulge in vain talk with those who indulged, And we used to deny the Day of Recompense, Until there came to us the Certainty (Death).} (Al-Muddaththir: 42-47)