Saad (The letter Saad)

49. “This is a reminder; and verily for the pious there is an excellent resort.”

50. “Gardens of perpetuity, whereof the gates are open to them.”

51. “Wherein they recline, and wherein they call for fruits abundant, and drink.”

The Qur’anic term /ŏikr/ has different dimensions:

Qur’an is the Reminder:

“Verily, We Ourself have sent down the Reminder…”.1

Prayer is /ŏikr/ (remembrance):

“And establish prayer for My remembrance.”2

The history of the elites is also /ŏikr/ (reminder):

“…This (Qur’an) is a blessed Reminder…”3

The history of the elites is a means of: vigilance, remembrance, and learning lessons; while piety is the means of having a good end.

From here on, there begins another variety of theme of the verses of this Surah where the pious ones are compared with the disobedient ones. These verses, explaining the fates of these two groups in Hereafter, on the whole complete the discussions in the former verses.

At first, as a conclusion from the life stories of the past prophets and pointing to the instructive points of their lives, it says:

“This is a reminder…”

Yes, the purpose of pointing to some parts of their glorious history was not merely telling stories.

Its aim was a remembrance and admonition, as this issue has been being emphasized from the beginning of this Surah:

“Sad (S). By the Qur’an, full of admonition”

The aim is to awaken the negligent thoughts, elevating the level of knowledge and cognizance; increasing the strength of perseverance and steadfastness in Muslims for whom these holy verses have been sent down.

Then the issue is changed from stating about the private form of the lives of the prophets into a general form, and the destiny of the pious ones is discussed in general.

It says:

“…and verily for the pious there is an excellent resort.”

After this short ambiguous sentence which illustrates their welfare briefly, the second verse, by using the style of epitome and expansion, which is the style of the Qur’an, explains it (their resort) in details.

It says:

“Gardens of perpetuity, whereof the gates are open to them.”

The Qur’anic term /jannat/ refers to the gardens of Paradise; and the term /‘adn/ is in the sense of ‘stand still’ and ‘perpetuity’, and the Arabic word /ma‘dan/ (mine) is so called because metals and some precious materials are settled there. However, the usage of this meaning here is a hint to the perpetuity of the gardens of Paradise.

The application of the Qur’anic phrase:

“The gates are open to them”

points to this that there is not even the trouble of opening the doors for the people of Paradise. It seems Paradise is waiting for them, and when Paradise meets them, it opens its bosom and invites them to enter.

This peace and special reverence of the people of Paradise is stated in the third verse in this form:

“Wherein they recline, and wherein they call for fruits abundant, and drink.”

Whenever they desire anything of them, immediately it comes to them. But whether the servants of Paradise bring them before them or only their will is enough that they come to them, both probabilities exist.

The emphasis on ‘fruit’ and ‘drink’ may refer to this matter that the utmost food of the people of Paradise is fruit, though, according to the verses of the Holy Qur’an other kinds of food are also available there. It is in the same way that the best and the healthiest food of man in this world is fruit, too.

The application of the word ‘abundant’ points to the kinds of fruit in Paradise; as its drink and its ‘purified drink’ are in various kinds, too. These facts have been pointed out in different verses of the Qur’an.