فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 17
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Fala ta'lamu nafsun ma uhfiya lahum min qurrati a'yunin jazaan bima kanu ya'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys that no soul knows the hidden blessings and joys that Allah has prepared for the righteous in Paradise as a reward for their deeds in this world. The phrase 'qurrat a'yunin' (coolness of the eyes/delight of the eyes) refers to the ultimate happiness and joy that transcends human imagination. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah stresses the incomprehensibility of Divine rewards, encouraging believers to trust in Allah's promises while performing righteous deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah As-Sajdah, which focuses on creation, the Day of Judgment, and the eternal rewards for believers. It comes at the end of a passage (32:15-17) describing the characteristics of the righteous who believe in the unseen and spend from their sustenance, establishing that their reward is beyond human comprehension and anticipation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived what Allah has prepared for those who love Him' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). This hadith directly parallels the ayah's message about the hidden nature of Paradise's rewards.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should perform good deeds with sincerity not for worldly recognition, but with trust that Allah has prepared incomprehensible rewards beyond their imagination. This ayah teaches humility before Divine knowledge and encourages steadfastness in faith despite the unknowable nature of ultimate outcomes.