Surah Al Isra ayat 21 Tafsir Quran 17:21

﴿انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَلْآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا﴾
[ الإسراء: 21]

17:21 Look how We have favored [in provision] some of them over others. But the Hereafter is greater in degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.

See how We have given preference to some of them over others in provision and renown. And truly the Hereafter is greater grander in degrees and greater in preferment to this world and so one ought to devote one’s attention to it the Hereafter to the exclusion of the other.

See how We distinguish some in status, rank or fortune above others! And by the same token have We made the Hereafter excel here below and be the world of choice

كَلاَّ On each meaning, on each of the two groups, those who desire this world and those who desire the Hereafter, We bestow what they want مِنْ عَطَآءِ رَبِّكَ ( from the bounties of your Lord. ) means, He is the One Who is in control of all things, and He is never unjust.
He gives to each what he deserves, whether it is eternal happiness or doom.
His decree is unstoppable, no one can withhold what He gives or change what He wants.
Allah says: وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ( And the bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden. ) meaning, no one can withhold or prevent them.
Qatadah said, وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ( And the bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden. ) "( It means ) they can never decrease". وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ( And the Bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden ) Al-Hasan and others said, "( It means ) they can never be prevented." Then Allah says: انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ( See how We prefer one above another, ) meaning in this world, so that some are rich and some are poor, and others are in between; some are beautiful, some are ugly and others are in between; some die young while others live to a great age, and some die in between. وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً ( and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment. ) means, the differences between them in the Hereafter will be greater than the differences between them in this world.
Some of them will be in varying levels of Hell, in chains and fetters, while others will be in the lofty degrees of Paradise, with its blessings and delights.
The people of Hell will vary in their positions and levels, just as the people of Paradise will.
In Paradise there are one hundred levels, and the distance between one level and another is like the distance between heaven and earth.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said:
«إِنَّ أَهْلَ الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى لَيَرَوْنَ أَهْلَ عِلِّيِّينَ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الْغَابِرَ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاء»
( The people of the highest levels (of Paradise ) will see the people of `Illiyin as if they are looking at distant stars on the horizon.) Allah says: وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً ( and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment. )

(17:21) But in spite of this you can see that We have exalted one people above the others and in the Hereafter these grades will be far greater, and their superiority will be far higher. *23

Look how We have favored [in provision] meaning

*23) This is to show that the seekers after the Hereafter have been exalted over the worshippers of the world even in this worldly life.
However, this exaltation is not in regard to the good things of this world -rich food and dress, palatial dwellings, limousines, helicopters and other grand things, but it is from another point of view.
They enjoy that true honour, love and good-will which is denied to the tyrants and the rich people in spite of the fact that they may be indigent.
This is because whatever the seekers after the Hereafter get in this world, it is earned in righteous and honest ways, while the worshippers of the world amass wealth by employing dishonest and cruel ways.
Then the former spend what they get with prudence and righteousness.
They fulfil the obligations they owe to others.
They spend their money in the Way of AIlah and to please Allah on the needy .and the indigent.
In contrast to them, the worshippers of this world spend their money in .the enjoyment of luxuries, wicked works, corruption and spreading other evil things.
This makes the former models of God-worship and purity in every respect and distinguishes them so clearly, from the worshippers of the world that they shine in exaltation over the latter.
These things clearly indicate that in the next world the grades of the seekers after the Hereafter will be far greater and their superiority far higher than those of the worshippers of the world.

 

كَلاَّ On each meaning, on each of the two groups, those who desire this world and those who desire the Hereafter, We bestow what they want مِنْ عَطَآءِ رَبِّكَ ( from the bounties of your Lord. ) means, He is the One Who is in control of all things, and He is never unjust.
He gives to each what he deserves, whether it is eternal happiness or doom.
His decree is unstoppable, no one can withhold what He gives or change what He wants.
Allah says: وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ( And the bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden. ) meaning, no one can withhold or prevent them.
Qatadah said, وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ( And the bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden. ) "( It means ) they can never decrease". وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحْظُورًا ( And the Bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden ) Al-Hasan and others said, "( It means ) they can never be prevented." Then Allah says: انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ( See how We prefer one above another, ) meaning in this world, so that some are rich and some are poor, and others are in between; some are beautiful, some are ugly and others are in between; some die young while others live to a great age, and some die in between. وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً ( and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment. ) means, the differences between them in the Hereafter will be greater than the differences between them in this world.
Some of them will be in varying levels of Hell, in chains and fetters, while others will be in the lofty degrees of Paradise, with its blessings and delights.
The people of Hell will vary in their positions and levels, just as the people of Paradise will.
In Paradise there are one hundred levels, and the distance between one level and another is like the distance between heaven and earth.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said: «إِنَّ أَهْلَ الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى لَيَرَوْنَ أَهْلَ عِلِّيِّينَ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الْغَابِرَ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاء» ( The people of the highest levels (of Paradise ) will see the people of `Illiyin as if they are looking at distant stars on the horizon.) Allah says: وَلَلاٌّخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً ( and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment. )

( See ) O Muhammad ( how We prefer one above another ) in this worldly life by means of wealth and servants, ( and verily the Hereafter ) in the Hereafter ( will be greater in degrees ) greater merits for the believers ( and greater in preferment ) for the believers who will have more rewards and higher degrees.

See how We prefer one above another (in this world) and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preference.

Page 284 English transliteration