فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ 40
Translations
[Who will be] in gardens, questioning each other
Transliteration
Fee jannatim yatasaa'aloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inhabitants of Paradise questioning one another about their past lives on earth. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the righteous will converse in the gardens of Paradise, likely asking each other about how they attained such blessings and reminiscing about their earthly deeds. This reflects the intellectual and spiritual communion that exists among the blessed in the afterlife, emphasizing both the social nature of Paradise and the accountability of one's actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Muddaththir's vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment and the ultimate fates of believers and disbelievers. The surah, revealed early in the Meccan period, presents contrasting scenes of Paradise and Hell to encourage believers toward righteous conduct and warn against heedlessness.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) described Paradise's inhabitants conversing about their lives and deeds. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains narrations about the inhabitants of Paradise recognizing one another and discussing their earthly experiences.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Paradise is not merely a place of solitary pleasure, but a realm of meaningful connection where the righteous reflect on and discuss their righteous deeds, encouraging us to live consciously with the awareness that our actions will be remembered and discussed in the eternal life to come.
Related Ayahs
وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ
And admit them to Paradise, which He has made known to them.
فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes [i.e., satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do.
جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ٱلَّتِى وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ عِبَادَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ وَعْدُهُۥ مَأْتِيًّا
[Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been eminent.
لَيُدْخِلَنَّهُم مُّدْخَلًا يَرْضَوْنَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ
He will surely cause them to enter an entrance with which they will be pleased, and indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Forbearing.