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
رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ٱلَّتِى وَعَدتَّهُمْ وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ
But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter].
يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِكُلِّ فَـٰكِهَةٍ ءَامِنِينَ
They will call therein for every [kind of] fruit - safe and secure.
جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ مُّفَتَّحَةً لَّهُمُ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبُ
Gardens of perpetual residence, whose doors will be opened to them.