قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ ۖ قَالَ يَـٰلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ 26
Translations
It was said, "Enter Paradise." He said, "I wish my people could know
Transliteration
Qeela idkhul al-jannah, qala ya layta qawmi ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the moment when a righteous believer enters Paradise and is greeted with the command to enter, upon which he expresses a deep wish that his people could know of his salvation and the truth he followed. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this reflects the believer's sincere concern for his community's guidance even after his own vindication, demonstrating that the joy of Paradise is tempered by compassion for those left behind in disbelief. The ayah emphasizes that true believers retain their mercy and concern for others' spiritual welfare, even in the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Surah Ya-Sin, which tells the story of a righteous believer from the people of a city (often identified with a follower of the messengers mentioned in verse 36:13-14). The surah's overall context is Meccan, addressing the themes of resurrection, divine signs, and the reward for those who believe while warning against those who reject. This particular verse illustrates the ultimate vindication of the believer and his concern for his kinfolk's salvation.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'The most beloved deed to Allah is to bring happiness to a Muslim' (reported by Al-Tabarani). Additionally, the Prophet's statement: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari) reflects the principle underlying this believer's wish for his people's guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that attaining Paradise should not diminish our compassion and concern for those who reject guidance; rather, it should deepen our desire to guide others toward salvation. Our success in faith is incomplete when our loved ones remain in error, and this drives us to sincerely invite others to the path of Allah with wisdom and genuine care.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
O you who have believed, repent to Allāh with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allāh will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent."
وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ
And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far,
يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا لَّا لَغْوٌ فِيهَا وَلَا تَأْثِيمٌ
They will exchange with one another a cup [of wine] wherein [results] no ill speech or commission of sin.
تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ سَلَـٰمٌ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَرِيمًا
Their greeting the Day they meet Him will be, "Peace." And He has prepared for them a noble reward.