جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ٱلَّتِى وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ عِبَادَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ وَعْدُهُۥ مَأْتِيًّا 61
Translations
[Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been eminent.
Transliteration
Jannātu 'Adnin allatī wa'ada ar-Raḥmānu 'ibādahu bil-ghayb; innahu kāna wa'duhu ma'tiyyā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Gardens of Eden (Paradise) that Allah has promised to His servants unseen, emphasizing that this promise is guaranteed and will certainly come to pass. Ibn Kathir explains that 'bil-ghayb' (unseen) refers to the believers accepting Allah's promise without having witnessed Paradise themselves, demonstrating their faith and trust. Al-Qurtubi notes that the phrase 'wa'duhu ma'tiyyā' (His promise will surely come) underscores the absolute certainty and inevitability of Allah's fulfillment of this covenant with the righteous.
Revelation Context
Surah Maryam is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when believers faced persecution and hardship. This ayah appears within the context of reassuring the believers about their ultimate reward, providing hope and encouragement during trials by describing the eternal blessings promised to the faithful.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'In Paradise, there are things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has imagined' (Sahih Bukhari 3244). Additionally, 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous deeds will enter Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 32) relates to the promise addressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to have unwavering trust in Allah's promises even when unseen, and to recognize that righteousness in this life leads to eternal reward. It encourages perseverance through worldly difficulties by keeping focused on the ultimate promise of Paradise that awaits the faithful.
Related Ayahs
ٱلسَّمَآءُ مُنفَطِرٌۢ بِهِۦ ۚ كَانَ وَعْدُهُۥ مَفْعُولًا
The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۙ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
Allāh has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds [that] for them there is forgiveness and great reward.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱخْشَوْا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا يَجْزِى وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِۦ وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease [i.e., relief].