Surah At-Tur 52:22
ﲊ ﲋ ﲌ ﲍ ﲎ
And We will provide them with fruit and meat from whatever they desire.
Tafsir of At-Tur 52:21-24
Tafsir
Al-Kashshaf
Verse range: 52:21-24
{And those who believed} This is conjoined to {fair, wide-eyed ones} (al-ḥūr al-ʿīn). That is: We have paired them with the *ḥūr*, and with those who believed—meaning their companions and associates—as in His saying: {As brothers, facing each other on thrones} (al-Ḥijr: 47). Thus, they enjoy themselves at times by playing with the *ḥūr*, and at other times by the companionship of their believing brothers.
{And We joined their offspring with them} The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed, Allah raises the offspring of the believer to his degree, even if they are below him, so that his eyes may be comforted by them." Then he recited this verse. Thus, Allah gathers for them various types of joy: their own happiness, the marriage to the *ḥūr al-ʿīn*, the companionship of believing brothers, and the gathering of their children and descendants with them.
Then He said: {Their offspring with faith, We joined their offspring with them}. That is: By virtue of a great, high-ranking faith—which is the faith of the fathers—We joined their offspring to their degrees, even if they did not deserve it, as a grace upon them and their fathers, to complete their joy and perfect their bliss.
If you ask: What is the meaning of the indefinite form of "faith" (īmān)? I say: It signifies that it is a special faith of great status. It is also possible that it refers to the lesser faith of the offspring, as if He said: "By a measure of faith that does not qualify them for the degree of the fathers, We joined them to them."
{And We did not diminish them} Meaning: We did not deprive them of anything. We provided them with all the rewards and graces mentioned, and We did not subtract anything from the reward of their deeds. It is also said: We did not subtract anything from their own rewards to give to their children; rather, We joined the children to them as a pure grace.
{Every person is a pledge for what he earned} Meaning: He is held as a pledge (*marhūn*). It is as if the soul of the servant is held as collateral with Allah for the righteous deeds he is required to perform, just as a man pledges his slave for a debt he owes. If he does good, he releases and saves it; otherwise, he ruins it.
{And We provided them} We increased them, time after time.
{They pass to one another} They exchange and hand back and forth, they and their companions among their relatives and brothers.
{A cup} Meaning wine.
{No vain talk therein, nor sin} In their drinking, they do not engage in idle, worthless speech, as those who drink in this world do in their foolishness and rowdiness. Nor do they commit that which would be considered sinful if done in the abode of obligation (this world), such as lying, cursing, or indecency. Rather, they speak with wisdom and beautiful words, finding pleasure in that, for their intellects remain intact and do not vanish; they are wise and learned.
{Young boys for them} Meaning: Servants owned by them, specifically for them.
{Hidden} Like a pearl in its shell, because it is fresher, more beautiful, and clearer. Or "stored away," for only that which is precious and of high value is stored.
It was said to Qatādah: "If this is the servant, what then of the one served?" He replied: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By Him in whose hand is my soul, the superiority of the one served over the servant is like the superiority of the moon on the night of the full moon over all the stars." And from him (ﷺ): "Indeed, the lowest in rank among the people of Paradise is he who calls out to a servant from among his servants, and a thousand respond to him at his door: 'At your service, at your service.'"