Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

75. “Those (servants of the Beneficent) shall be rewarded with the high stations (in Paradise) because they were patient, and they shall be met therein with welcome and salutations.”

76. “Abiding therein; how excellent the abode, and the resting-place.”

After completing these attributes, these special servants of Allah, with their attributes, are referred to and in a short conclusion their divine reward is brought up as follows:

“Those (servants of the Beneficent) shall be rewarded with the high stations (in Paradise) because they were patient…”

The Arabic word /qurfah/ means something that is picked up and consumed, such as water that man gets from spring for drinking. Then this word was applied to upper parts and stories of a building and houses. Here it implies the best places of the Paradise.

Since the servants of the Beneficent, with such attributes, are in the first row of other believers, their heavenly rank and position must be also the highest.

It must be noted that this high rank is given to them for they have been patient and tolerant for the sake of Allah. It maybe thought that this is another attribute of theirs, but it is not a new one, it guarantees the fulfilment of the previous attributes. Is it possible to worship Allah, to be humble and modest, to struggle with low desires and to stop vain witness without patience and perseverance?

This statement reminds one of the famous tradition stated by Imam Ali (as) who said:

“The relationship of patience and tolerance with faith is like the relationship of head with body.”1

The survival of body depends on the existence of the head, for what controls all limbs is located in man’s head.

Thus, the Qur’anic word /sabr/ (patience) has got an extensive concept which includes tolerance and resistance against difficulties being on the path of worshipping Allah, struggling with low desires and withstanding factors of sin. If in some narrations we read that its purpose is only poverty and financial weakness, these are the extensions of it.

Then it says:

“...and they shall be met therein with welcome and salutations.”

The dwellers of the Paradise welcome each other, and angels say hello to them and, more importantly, Allah says hello and welcomes them, as we read in verse 58 of Surah Ya- Sin:

“Peace: a word from a Merciful Lord!”

In verses 23 and 24 of Surah Ar-Ra’d we read:

“...and unto whom the angels will enter from every gate,” “Peace (be) upon you...”

Commentators have various opinions about the meaning of the Qur’anic words /tahiyyat/ and /salam/. The word /tahiyyat/ originally means to pray for life and the existence of other person. And the word ‘Salam’ is derived from the word ‘Salamat (health) and it means to ask health for someone.

Thus the first word is for asking life and the second word is for making this life healthy and without danger, though they both can sometimes mean one thing.

Of course, in common language, the meaning of the world /tahiyyat/ is more extensive and it, envelops any word, which causes happiness and respect and kindness, said to someone at the time of entrance.

To emphasize more on this subject in a different style, the noble verse says:

“Abiding therein; how excellent the abode, and the resting-place.”