Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)

Verse 88 - 89

Table of Contents

    88. Then, if he [the dying person] be of those brought near unto Allah,

    89. [There is for him] rest and Mercy and a Garden abounding in Blessings.

    The blessed Verses 88 and 89 sum up the points discussed in the preceding blessed Verses, thus depicting the differences between human dispositions at the time of death reflecting that some people pass away with utmost serenity, peace of mind, and happiness, whereas some others depart the mundane world with anxiety and horror when they see Hellfire from afar.

    The blessed Verses are saying that if the dying person happens to be one of those nearest unto Divine Threshold, he shall leave this world with utmost peace and serenity since they know that they shall abide in Paradise which abounds in Divine Blessings. According to lexicologists, the Arabic word rawh originally designates breathing.

    The word rayhan denotes sweet scented plant or something else. However, the word connotes the cause of life and peace and in this context the world is applied to Blessings. Thus, the words rawh and rayhan connote all Blessings and the means of human comfort and peace.

    In other words, it may be said that the former alludes to all the things which rescues man from hardships such that he may feel peace and comfort. In contrast to the former, the latter refers to the Blessings granted to man following hardships and vicissitudes. Muslim exegetes present different meanings for the twain terms, but since the number of such interpretations amounts to ten, they are not mentioned for the sake of brevity.

    However, they are all applications of the general and comprehensive meanings mentioned under the exegesis of the blessed Verse in question.

    It is also worthy of note that following making reference to rawh and rayhan, mention is made of janna na‘im ("Paradise abounding in Blessings") which may reflect that rawh and rayhan shall be bestowed upon the believers at the time of death, in the grave, in purgatory, and in Paradise.

    Regarding the blessed Verse in question, a tradition is narrated from Imam Sadiq (as) according to which if the dying person happens to be one of those nearest unto Divine Threshold, rawh and rayhan shall be bestowed upon him in the grave and Paradise abounding in Blessings, namely in the Hereafter.1

    Footnotes

    1. Tafsir Nur al-Thiqalayn, vol. 5, p. 228; Tafsir Nur, vol. 11, p. 547; Tafsir Makhzan al-‘Irfan; Tafsir Nimuna, under the blessed Verse in question. ↩