قُلْ أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ أَمْ جَنَّةُ ٱلْخُلْدِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ۚ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَزَآءً وَمَصِيرًا 15
Translations
Say, "Is that better or the Garden of Eternity which is promised to the righteous? It will be for them a reward and destination.
Transliteration
Qul a-dhalika khayrun am jannatul-khuldi allatee wu'ida al-muttaqoon, kanat lahum jazaa'an wa-maseeran
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask the disbelievers which is better: their worldly pleasures and false gods, or the eternal Paradise promised to the righteous (al-muttaqoon). The ayah emphasizes that Paradise is both a reward (jazaa') for their deeds and their ultimate destination (maseer), highlighting the superiority of the Hereafter over temporary worldly gains. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari note this rhetorical question is designed to awaken the conscience and demonstrate the obvious choice for those with sound reasoning.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period context of Surah Al-Furqan, which addresses the arguments against the Quran and prophethood raised by Meccan polytheists. It follows verses describing the false claims of disbelievers and their worship of idols, providing a powerful contrast between their temporary enjoyments and the eternal reward awaiting the God-conscious believers. The rhetorical question serves to highlight the foolishness of choosing worldly vanities over Paradise.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest blessing in Paradise is the vision of Allah's face.' (Related in Muslim and other collections). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari describes Paradise's descriptions: 'No soul knows what comfort and joy has been hidden for them as a reward for their deeds.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to constantly reassess their priorities, recognizing that the eternal Paradise promised to the God-conscious is incomparably superior to any temporary worldly pleasure or status. It serves as a reminder to maintain perspective on life's true purpose and to align our choices with consciousness of Allah (taqwa) rather than fleeting desires.