أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ 38
Translations
Does every person among them aspire to enter a garden of pleasure?
Transliteration
Ayatma'u kullu imri'in minhum an yudkhala jannata na'im
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question rejecting the false hope of the disbelievers who expect to enter Paradise without faith and righteous deeds. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as Allah's rebuke to those who arrogantly assume they deserve Paradise simply by virtue of their ancestry or worldly status, when Paradise is exclusively for the believers and the righteous. The ayah emphasizes that entry into the Garden of Bliss requires sincere belief in Allah and obedience to His commands.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'arij, a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the disbelievers of Quraysh rejected the message despite witnessing signs and miracles. It addresses their arrogance and false hopes regarding the Hereafter, contextualizing their spiritual blindness within the broader theme of the Day of Judgment discussed throughout the surah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone.' They asked, 'Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'Not even me, unless Allah bestows His mercy upon me' (Sahih Bukhari 5673). This hadith reinforces that entry to Paradise depends on Allah's mercy combined with righteous action and sincere faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to harbor false certainty about Paradise or underestimate the importance of sincere faith and righteous deeds, while warning against the spiritual arrogance that assumes salvation without submission to Allah. It calls us to examine our intentions and actions, recognizing that proximity to Paradise depends entirely on our submission to Allah's will and His mercy.