Tafsir & Commentary
The Overwhelming (الغاشية) · Meccan
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَـٰغِيَةً11
88:11
Translation — Sahih International
Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.
Transliteration
Lā tasma'u fīhā lāghiyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Paradise, stating that one will not hear any vain, frivolous, or sinful speech within it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, 'lāghiyah' (لَـٰغِيَةً) refers to idle talk, obscenities, and meaningless discourse—all the wasteful speech that characterizes worldly life will be absent from Paradise. This emphasizes the perfect purity and righteousness of the heavenly realm, where all speech and interactions will be meaningful, truthful, and directed toward glorifying Allah.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
Surah Al-Ghashiyah is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam, focusing on the Day of Judgment and the contrasting states of the blessed and the punished. This ayah appears within a description of Paradise (verses 8-16), depicting the rewards awaiting the righteous believers as a stark contrast to the punishment of the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the Quranic principle in Surah An-Nahl 16:125 about speaking with wisdom relates thematically to the quality of speech expected of believers.
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah reminds believers that Paradise is not merely a place of physical comfort, but a realm of spiritual and moral perfection where all speech reflects virtue and truth. It should inspire Muslims in this life to guard their tongues and engage in meaningful, beneficial discourse that brings them closer to the ideals of the Hereafter.