Surah Al Imran ayat 15 Tafsir Quran 3:15

﴿۞ قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُم بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَأَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ﴾
[ آل عمران: 15]

3:15 Say, "Shall I inform you of [something] better than that? For those who fear Allah will be gardens in the presence of their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and approval from Allah. And Allah is Seeing of [His] servants -

Say O Muhammad (s) to your people ‘Shall I tell you shall I inform you of something better than that? that which has been mentioned of lusts this interrogative is meant as an affirmative. For those that are fearful of idolatry with their Lord ‘inda rabbihim is the predicate the subject being the following jannātun…’ are Gardens underneath which rivers flow abiding therein decreed for them therein is eternal life when they enter it and spouses purified of menstruation and other impurities and beatitude read ridwān or rudwān meaning ‘much pleasure’ from God; and God is Seer knower of His servants requiting each of them according to his deeds.

Say to them O Muhammad: Shall I inform you of what excels that which allures your eyes and minds here? Paradise beneath which rivers flow is unsurpassed in beauty and supreme bliss, destined to those who revere Allah and entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Him. They will have passed through nature to Eternity companioned by mates of their design, pure and holy, fellows of their piety. Above all they come in Allah’s grace and they win His satisfaction and esteem. Allah is Vigilant. He keeps a watchful eye upon His creation and upon the way people conduct themselves in life; He knows the attributes inherent in each and all

The True Value of This Earthly Life Allah mentions the delights that He put in this life for people, such as women and children, and He started with women, because the test with them is more tempting.
For instance, the Sahih recorded that the Messenger ﷺ said,
«مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاء»
( I did not leave behind me a test more tempting to men than women. ) When one enjoys women for the purpose of having children and preserving his chastity, then he is encouraged to do so.
There are many Hadiths that encourage getting married, such as,
«وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ هذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مَنْ كَانَ أَكْثَرَهَا نِسَاء»
( Verily, the best members of this Ummah are those who have the most wives ) He also said,
«الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ، وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِهَا الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَة»
( This life is a delight, and the best of its delight is a righteous wife ) The Prophet said in another Hadith,
«حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاة»
( I was made to like women and perfume, and the comfort of my eye is the prayer. ) `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Nothing was more beloved to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ than women, except horses," and in another narration, "...than horses except women." The desire to have children is sometimes for the purpose of pride and boasting, and as such, is a temptation.
When the purpose for having children is to reproduce and increase the Ummah of Muhammad with those who worship Allah alone without partners, then it is encouraged and praised.
A Hadith states,
«تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ، فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة»
( Marry the Wadud (kind ) and Walud ( fertile ) woman, for I will compare your numbers to the rest of the nations on the Day of Resurrection.) The desire of wealth sometimes results out of arrogance, and the desire to dominate the weak and control the poor, and this conduct is prohibited.
Sometimes, the want for more money is for the purpose of spending it on acts of worship, being kind to the family, the relatives, and spending on various acts of righteousness and obedience; this behavior is praised and encouraged in the religion. Scholars of Tafsir have conflicting opinions about the amount of the Qintar, all of which indicate that the Qintar is a large amount of money, as Ad-Dahhak and other scholars said.
Abu Hurayrah said "The Qintar is twelve thousand Uwqiyah, each Uwqiyah is better than what is between the heavens and earth." This was recorded by Ibn Jarir . The desire to have horses can be one of three types.
Sometimes, owners of horses collect them to be used in the cause of Allah, and when warranted, they use their horses in battle.
This type of owner shall be rewarded for this good action.
Another type collects horses to boast, and out of enmity to the people of Islam, and this type earns a burden for his behavior.
Another type collects horses to fulfill their needs and to collect their offspring, and they do not forget Allah's right due on their horses.
This is why in this case, these horses provide a shield of sufficiency for their owner, as evident by a Hadith that we will mention, Allah willing, when we explain Allah's statement, وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ ( And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war. ) 8:60. As for the Musawwamah horses, Ibn `Abbas said that they are the branded, beautiful horses.
This is the same explanation of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Abdur-Rahman bin `Abdullah bin Abza, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Abu Sinan and others.
Makhul said the Musawwamah refers to the horse with a white spotted faced, and the horse with white feet.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَيْسَ مِنْ فَرَسٍ عَرَبِيَ إِلَّا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُ مَعَ كُلِّ فَجْرٍ يَدْعُو بِدَعْوَتَيْنِ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ خَوَّلْتَنِي مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ، فَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَحَبِّ مَالِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَوْ أَحَبَّ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ إِلَيْه»
( Every Arabian horse is allowed to have two supplications every dawn, and the horse supplicates, `O Allah! You made me subservient to the son of Adam.
Therefore, make me among the dearest of his wealth and household to him, or, ...make me the dearest of his household and wealth to him. ) Allah's statement, وَالاٌّنْعَـمُ ( Cattle ) means, camels, cows and sheep. وَالْحَرْثِ ( And fertile land ) meaning, the land that is used to farm and grow plants. Allah then said, ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( This is the pleasure of the present world's life ) meaning, these are the delights of this life and its short lived joys, وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ ( But Allah has the excellent return with Him ) meaning, the best destination and reward. The Reward of the Those Who Have Taqwa is Better Than All Joys of This World This is why Allah said, قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَلِكُمْ ( Say: "Shall I inform you of things far better than those" ) This Ayah means, "Say, O Muhammad, to the people, `Should I tell you about what is better than the delights and joys of this life that will soon perish"' Allah informed them of what is better when He said, لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْاْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَارُ ( For those who have Taqwa there are Gardens (Paradise ) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow) meaning, rivers run throughout it.
These rivers carry various types of drinks: honey, milk, wine and water such that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever imagined, خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ( Therein (is their ) eternal ( home )) meaning, they shall remain in it forever and ever and will not want to be removed from it. وَأَزْوَجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ( And Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives )) meaning, from filth, dirt, harm, menstruation, post birth bleeding, and other things that affect women in this world. وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( And Allah will be pleased with them ) meaning, Allah's pleasure will descend on them and He shall never be angry with them after that.
This is why Allah said in in Surah Bara`ah, وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ( But the pleasure of Allah is greater ) 9:72, meaning, greater than the eternal delight that He has granted them.
Allah then said, وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ( And Allah is All-Seer of the (His ) servants) and, He gives each provisions according to what they deserve.

(3:15) Say: 'Shall I tell you of things better than these? For the God-fearing there are, with their Lord, gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they will abide for ever, will have spouses of stainless purity *11 as companions, and will enjoy the good pleasure of Allah.' Allah thoroughly observes His servants. *12

Say, "Shall I inform you of [something] meaning

*11).
For explanation see Surah 2, n.
27 above.

*12).
This shows that God neither showers His favours on people arbitrarily nor makes casual and superficial judgements.
He knows full well the deeds and intentions of people.
He also knows who merits His rewards and who does not.

 

The True Value of This Earthly Life Allah mentions the delights that He put in this life for people, such as women and children, and He started with women, because the test with them is more tempting.
For instance, the Sahih recorded that the Messenger ﷺ said, «مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاء» ( I did not leave behind me a test more tempting to men than women. ) When one enjoys women for the purpose of having children and preserving his chastity, then he is encouraged to do so.
There are many Hadiths that encourage getting married, such as, «وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ هذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مَنْ كَانَ أَكْثَرَهَا نِسَاء» ( Verily, the best members of this Ummah are those who have the most wives ) He also said, «الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ، وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِهَا الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَة» ( This life is a delight, and the best of its delight is a righteous wife ) The Prophet said in another Hadith, «حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاة» ( I was made to like women and perfume, and the comfort of my eye is the prayer. ) `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Nothing was more beloved to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ than women, except horses," and in another narration, "...than horses except women." The desire to have children is sometimes for the purpose of pride and boasting, and as such, is a temptation.
When the purpose for having children is to reproduce and increase the Ummah of Muhammad with those who worship Allah alone without partners, then it is encouraged and praised.
A Hadith states, «تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ، فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة» ( Marry the Wadud (kind ) and Walud ( fertile ) woman, for I will compare your numbers to the rest of the nations on the Day of Resurrection.) The desire of wealth sometimes results out of arrogance, and the desire to dominate the weak and control the poor, and this conduct is prohibited.
Sometimes, the want for more money is for the purpose of spending it on acts of worship, being kind to the family, the relatives, and spending on various acts of righteousness and obedience; this behavior is praised and encouraged in the religion. Scholars of Tafsir have conflicting opinions about the amount of the Qintar, all of which indicate that the Qintar is a large amount of money, as Ad-Dahhak and other scholars said.
Abu Hurayrah said "The Qintar is twelve thousand Uwqiyah, each Uwqiyah is better than what is between the heavens and earth." This was recorded by Ibn Jarir . The desire to have horses can be one of three types.
Sometimes, owners of horses collect them to be used in the cause of Allah, and when warranted, they use their horses in battle.
This type of owner shall be rewarded for this good action.
Another type collects horses to boast, and out of enmity to the people of Islam, and this type earns a burden for his behavior.
Another type collects horses to fulfill their needs and to collect their offspring, and they do not forget Allah's right due on their horses.
This is why in this case, these horses provide a shield of sufficiency for their owner, as evident by a Hadith that we will mention, Allah willing, when we explain Allah's statement, وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ ( And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war. ) 8:60. As for the Musawwamah horses, Ibn `Abbas said that they are the branded, beautiful horses.
This is the same explanation of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Abdur-Rahman bin `Abdullah bin Abza, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Abu Sinan and others.
Makhul said the Musawwamah refers to the horse with a white spotted faced, and the horse with white feet.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَيْسَ مِنْ فَرَسٍ عَرَبِيَ إِلَّا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُ مَعَ كُلِّ فَجْرٍ يَدْعُو بِدَعْوَتَيْنِ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ خَوَّلْتَنِي مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ، فَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَحَبِّ مَالِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَوْ أَحَبَّ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ إِلَيْه» ( Every Arabian horse is allowed to have two supplications every dawn, and the horse supplicates, `O Allah! You made me subservient to the son of Adam.
Therefore, make me among the dearest of his wealth and household to him, or, ...make me the dearest of his household and wealth to him. ) Allah's statement, وَالاٌّنْعَـمُ ( Cattle ) means, camels, cows and sheep. وَالْحَرْثِ ( And fertile land ) meaning, the land that is used to farm and grow plants. Allah then said, ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( This is the pleasure of the present world's life ) meaning, these are the delights of this life and its short lived joys, وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ ( But Allah has the excellent return with Him ) meaning, the best destination and reward. The Reward of the Those Who Have Taqwa is Better Than All Joys of This World This is why Allah said, قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَلِكُمْ ( Say: "Shall I inform you of things far better than those" ) This Ayah means, "Say, O Muhammad, to the people, `Should I tell you about what is better than the delights and joys of this life that will soon perish"' Allah informed them of what is better when He said, لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْاْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَارُ ( For those who have Taqwa there are Gardens (Paradise ) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow) meaning, rivers run throughout it.
These rivers carry various types of drinks: honey, milk, wine and water such that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever imagined, خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ( Therein (is their ) eternal ( home )) meaning, they shall remain in it forever and ever and will not want to be removed from it. وَأَزْوَجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ( And Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives )) meaning, from filth, dirt, harm, menstruation, post birth bleeding, and other things that affect women in this world. وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( And Allah will be pleased with them ) meaning, Allah's pleasure will descend on them and He shall never be angry with them after that.
This is why Allah said in in Surah Bara`ah, وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ( But the pleasure of Allah is greater ) 9:72, meaning, greater than the eternal delight that He has granted them.
Allah then said, وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ( And Allah is All-Seer of the (His ) servants) and, He gives each provisions according to what they deserve.

Then Allah elucidated the bliss of the Hereafter, its permanence and favour, just as He exposited the joys of the life of this world, by saying: ( Say ) O Muhammad, to the unbelievers: ( Shall I inform you of something better than that? ) better than the embellishments of this world. ( For those who keep from evil ) keep from disbelief, ascribing partners to Allah and indecencies, in reference to Abu Bakr and his fellow believers, ( with their Lord, are Gardens beneath which ) beneath its trees and habitations ( rivers ) of wine, honey, milk and water ( flow, wherein they will abide for ever ) they will dwell in Paradise: they shall neither die nor leave it ( and pure companions ) they have therein spouses who are spared menses and filth, ( and contentment from Allah ) and the contentment of Allah is far greater than the bliss they enjoy. ( Allah is Seer of His bondmen ) He is Seer of the believers, their places in Paradise, as well as their works in the life of this world.

Say: "Shall I inform you of things far better than those? For Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2) there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home) and Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives) [i.e. they will have no menses, urine, or stool, etc.], And Allah will be pleased with them. And Allah is All-Seer of the (His) slaves".

Page 51 English transliteration