Tafsir of Al-Fajr 89:24

Al-Fajr (89:24)

He says: "Oh, I wish..."

Then the Almighty explains what this person will say, stating: {He will say, "Oh, I wish} {I had sent forth [good deeds] for my life."}

There are two issues concerning this verse:

There are several interpretations:

1. The Life of the Hereafter: The meaning is: "Oh, I wish I had done [good deeds] in this transient worldly life for the sake of this life [of the Hereafter] which is eternal and unending." He said, "for my life" (li-ḥayātī) and not "for this life" because life, in essence, is only the life in the Hereafter. The Almighty says: {And indeed, the home of the Hereafter—that is the [true] life} (Al-'Ankabut: 64), meaning it is the true life.

2. Escape from Punishment: Regarding the disbeliever, the Almighty states: {And death will come to him from every place, but he will not die} (Ibrahim: 17). He also said: {Indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live} (Taha: 74), and {And the most wretched one will avoid it, Who enters the great fire, Then neither dies therein nor lives} (Al-A'la: 11-13). This verse indicates that the inhabitants of the Fire in the Hereafter are as if they have no life. Therefore, the meaning is: "Oh, I wish I had sent forth a deed that would necessitate my salvation from the Fire so that I could be among the living."

3. Timing of Deeds: It could mean: "Oh, I wish I had sent forth [deeds] at the time of my life in the world," similar to your saying, "I came to him ten nights remaining in Rajab" (implying a specific time frame).

The Mu'tazila sect used this verse as evidence that human choice (ikhtiyār) was entirely in their hands, dependent upon their intention and will. They argue that they were not prevented from obedience nor emboldened to commit sins.

The Refutation: Their actions were indeed dependent on their intentions. If their intention was dependent on another intention, this would lead to an infinite regress (tasalsul). If their intention was dependent on the intention of God, then the doctrine of Mu'tazilism is invalidated.

Then the Almighty states:

**{So that Day, no one will punish [as severely as] His punishment, Nor will anyone bind [as severely as] His binding.}*