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alladhīna tatawaffāhumu l-malāʾikatu ṭayyibīna yaqūlūna salāmun ʿalaykumu dkhulū l-jannata bi-mā kuntum taʿmalūna
—those whom the angels take away while they are pure. They say [to them], ‘Peace be to you! Enter paradise because of what you used to do.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 32
32. “Those whom the angels cause to die (while from polytheism and sin) are clean, saying (to them): ‘Peace be upon you! Enter the Paradise because of what you used to do’.”
The objective in using the Qur’anic term /tayyibin/, which was formerly used in the previous verses with regard to the pagans and the disbelievers, concerns those who have not already been of the polytheists and sinful ones, and it refers to those who are pious. The term /tayyib/ alludes to those who are clean from all kinds of dirt and pollution or ‘impurity’ and are decorated with virtues and positive attributes. In the previous holy verses, we read as to how the angels of death usually take the life of the arrogant pagans while they are oppressors.
Here, in this noble verse, we read as to how the angels would take the life of those who are clean of everything and are clear of all oppressions, arrogance, and every kind of sin. In this verse, the angels, addressing them, say:
That kind of ‘peace’ which is uttered as a mark or a sign of respect, security, safety as a thorough peace of mind. The verse says:
“Those whom the angels cause to die (while from polytheism and sin) are clean, saying (to them): ‘Peace be upon you!…”
Then, afterwards, the angels will add:
“…Enter the Paradise because of what you used to do’.”
Here, the Arabic phrase /tatawaff ahum/, meaning that ‘they will receive their soul’, signifies the fact that death does not mean ‘mortality’ and nothingness or the end of every thing. On the contrary, it is only a transit or a passing stage which paves the way for climbing up the ladder and going up to another stage.
Traditions on the Qualifications of the Paradise and Hell
1- The Messenger of Allah (S) said:
“All blessings are perishable except the ones which belong to those who reside in Paradise, and all depressions are temporary except the ones which belong to those who are the dwellers of Hell.” 2
2- Ibn-Abbas (r.h.) says:
“Those in Paradise will go through an hour during which time they witness the sun and the moon and ask:
‘Did Allah not promise that we shall not see the sun and the moon in our residence in Paradise’?
To which an oracle will exclaim:
‘Your Lord has promised you truly that you would no more see the sun and the moon in Paradise. But, that light beam belongs to a man from among the followers of Ali-Ibn-i-Abi-Talib (as) who is going from one compartment into another one, and that which you have been exposed to has been (the rays of) the light out of his face.’” 3
3- Abū-Sa‘id says:
“The Messenger of Allah (S) said: A man from the dwellers of Paradise, of high-ranking position, comes upon those residing in Paradise and illuminates the entire Paradise. It is as if his face brightens everywhere like a brilliant star.” 4
4- The Messenger of Allah (S) said:
“Verily the dwellers of Paradise will witness those compartment-dwellers from above their head just like you observing the morning star which has been left in the horizon to the east or to the west.” 5
5- The Prophet of Islam (S) said:
“There are certain (blessings) in the Paradise which neither any eyes have seen nor anyone’s ears have heard; nor has it been revealed to any man’s heart.”
Some Traditions on the Attributes of Hell
6- The Messenger of Allah (S) said:
“The least torment for the people of Hell on the day of resurrection will be to make them put on a pair of shoes made of fire which will cause their brains to boil because of the intensity of their heat.” 6
7- It has been narrated from Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, Ali (as) who said:
“Be in owe of that kind of fire the heat of which is excessive, the depth of which is intensive, the ornament of which is of iron, and the drinks of it consist of warm sewage made up of blood mixed with puss.” 7
8- It has been quoted from Imam Sadiq, the sixth Imam (as), in a tradition that the Hell has got seven gateways; through one of which our enemies and those who take up arms against us and humiliate us will enter. This gateway is most definitely the largest and the most burning of all gateways. 8 9- It has also been quoted from Imam Sadiq (as) who said:
“Verily there exists a desert in the Hell for the arrogant which is named /saqar/. The excessive and intensive heat of it will be the main cause of their complaint when they will ask Allah to allow it to breathe, then He will allow it, so it will breathe and put the Hell on fire.” 9
10. ‘Ayyashi quoted from Imam Sadiq (as) who narrated from his father and his grandfather who have quoted in turn from Amir-ul-Mu’mineen (as) saying:
“At the time when ‘Zaqqūm’ (a tree in Hell out of which the hell-dwelling people feed themselves) and ‘Zari‘’ (a substance in hell which is bitter, stinking and burning) boils up in their stomach in Hell, those people will ask for a drink, then they will be provided with the drink of ‘Ghassaq and Sadid’, which are in turn made up of sewage secretions mixed with abscess secretion and blood.
They will thus be made to drink the dirty liquid consistently, which would not quench their thirst. They aspire towards death, though they will not die so as to be made to receive terrible punishment the fullest.”
The Qur’an says:
11- The blissful Prophet (S) asked the people:
“Shall I not tell you about the people of Paradise?”
They answered:
“Of course, O’, Messenger of Allah (S).”
He said:
“The people of Paradise are the ones whom the people in this world have regarded as weak ones and humiliated them. Were they to swear to Allah to anything, Allah would thereon take them into account.”
Then he said:
“Shall I not tell you about the people of Hell?’
They said:
“Yes”.
He said:
“They are the hostile, stupid, nonsensical, vociferous, uncharitable wealthy people, (who are) tyrants.” 11
Footnotes