Surah Hadid ayat 21 Tafsir Quran 57:21

﴿سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ﴾
[ الحديد: 21]

57:21 Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

Vie with one another for forgiveness from your Lord and a garden the breadth of which is as the breadth of the heaven and the earth if one were placed at the end of the other prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers. That is the bounty of God which He gives to whomever He will and God is dispenser of tremendous bounty.

Vie with one another and compete to win Allahs forgiveness and your way to the beatitude of heaven in a paradise as wide as the heaven and the earth; prepared for those who sincerely believed in Allah and His Messenger. This is the sufficient and efficacious grace of Allah; He confers it on whom He will, and Allah is the Source of all grace

This Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by saying, أَنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الاٌّمْوَلِ وَالاٌّوْلْـدِ ( that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. ) meaning, this is the significance of this life to its people, just as He said in another Ayah, زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَـمِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ ( Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth ), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land.
This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but Allah has the excellent return with Him.)( 3:14 ) Allah the Exalted also sets a parable for this life, declaring that its joys are fading and its delights are perishable, saying that life is, كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ ( Like a rain (Ghayth ),) which is the rain that comes down to mankind, after they had felt despair.
Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُواْ ( And He it is Who sends down the Ghayth (rain ) after they have despaired.)( 42:28 ) Allah's statement, أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ( thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; ) meaning that farmers admire the vegetation that grows in the aftermath of rain.
And just as farmers admire vegetation, the disbelievers admire this life; they are the most eager to acquire the traits of life, and life is most dear to them, ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرّاً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَاماً ( afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. ) meaning, that vegetation soon turns yellow in color, after being fresh and green.
After that, the green fades away and becomes scattered pieces of dust.
This is the parable of this worldly life, it starts young, then matures and then turns old and feeble.
This is also the parable of mankind in this life; they are young and strong in the beginning.
In this stage of life, they look youthful and handsome.
Slowly, they begin growing older, their mannerism changes and their strength weakens.
They then grow old and feeble; moving becomes difficult for them, while doing easy things becomes beyond their ability.
Allah the Exalted said, اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفاً وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ ( Allah is He Who created you in (a state of ) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave ( you ) weakness and grey hair.
He creates what He wills.
And He is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful.)( 30:54 ) This parable indicates the near demise of this life and the imminent end of it, while in contrast, the Hereafter is surely coming.
Those who hear this parable should, therefore, be aware of the significance of the Hereafter and feel eagerness in the goodness that it contains, وَفِى الاٌّخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَنٌ وَمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَآ إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( But in the Hereafter (there is ) a severe torment, and ( there is ) forgiveness from Allah and ( His ) pleasure.
And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.) meaning, surely, the Hereafter that will certainly come contains two things either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure.
Allah the Exalted said, وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment. ) meaning, this life is only a form of enjoyment that deceives those who incline to it.
Surely, those who recline to this life will admire it and feel that it is dear to them, so much so, that they might think that this is the only life, no life or dwelling after it.
Yet, in reality, this life is insignificant as compared to the Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَلْجَنَّةُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ شِرَاكِ نَعْلِهِ، وَالنَّارُ مِثْلُ ذلِك»
( Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap on his shoe, and so is the (Hell ) Fire.) Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith through the narration of Ath-Thawri.
This Hadith indicates the close proximity of both good and evil in relation to mankind.
If this is the case, then this is the reason Allah the Exalted encouraged mankind to rush to perform acts of righteousness and obedience and to avoid the prohibitions.
By doing so, their sins and errors will be forgiven and they will acquire rewards and an exalted status.
Allah the Exalted said, سَابِقُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, ) Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah, وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَـوَتُ وَالاٌّرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ( And march forth in the way (to ) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who have Taqwa.)( 3:133 ) Allah said here, أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ( prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers.
That is the grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with.
And Allah is the Owner of great bounty. ) meaning, "This, that Allah has qualified them for, is all a part of His favor, bounty and compassion." We mentioned a Hadith collected in the Sahih in which the poor emigrants said to the Messenger ﷺ, "O Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and permanent enjoyment." He asked,
«وَمَا ذَاكَ؟»
( Why is that ) They said, "They pray like us and fast as we do.
However, they give in charity, whereas we cannot do that, and that free servants, whereas we cannot afford it." The Prophet said,
«أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ سَبَقْتُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ، وَلَا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ: تُسَبِّحُونَ وَتُكَبِّرُونَ وَتُحَمِّدُونَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِين»
( Shall I tell you of a good deed that, if you acted upon, you would catch up with those who have surpassed you none would overtake you and be better than you, except those who might do the same.
Say, "Glorious is Allah," "Allah is Most Great," and "Praise be to Allah," thirty three times each after every prayer. ) They later came back and said, "Our wealthy brethren heard what we did and they started doing the same." Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاء»
This is the favor of Allah that He gives to whom He wills.)

(57:21) So vie with one another *37 in seeking to attain your Lord's forgiveness and a Garden whose width is as the width of the heaven and the earth, *38 one which has been prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is Allah's bounty which He bestows upon those whom He pleases. Allah is the Lord of abounding bounty.

Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and meaning

*37) Musabagat ( from which sabiqu of the original is derived ) means to compete and vie with each other in order to excel.
The meaning is: " Give up your rivalries with one another for amassing wealth, and pleasures and benefits, of the world and instead make the forgiveness of your Lord and Paradise the object of your struggle and rivalries.'
*38) Some commentators have taken the word ard in 'arduha ka- 'ard-is- sama '-I wal-ard in the sense of breadth, but actually this word has been used here in the meaning of spaciousness and extensiveness.
In Arabic the word ard is not only used for breadth, as a counterpart of length, but also for spaciousness, as it has been used in Ha Mim As-Sajdah: 51: fa-dhu du'a in 'arid: "Then he is full of wordy supplications." Besides, one should also understand that the object here is not to foretell the area or extent of Paradise, but to give an idea of its vastness and extensiveness.
Here its vastness has been described as the vastness of the heaven and earth, and in Surah .
AI-'Imran it has been said: "Hasten to follow the path that leads to your Lord's forgiveness and to Paradise whose vastness is that of the universe, which has been prepared for the righteous "' ( v.
133 ) When both these verses are read together, one gets the idea that the; gardens and palaces man will receive in Paradise will only serve as his dwelling-place t but the entire universe will be his home He will not be restricted to one place as be is in this world, where just for reaching the Moon, his nearest neighbour in space, he has had to struggle hard for years and expend excessive resources only to overcome the difficulties of a short journeny.
There the whole universe will be accessible to him: he will be able to see whatever he would desire from his station and be able to visit whichever place he would like easily.

 

This Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by saying, أَنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الاٌّمْوَلِ وَالاٌّوْلْـدِ ( that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. ) meaning, this is the significance of this life to its people, just as He said in another Ayah, زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَـمِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ ( Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth ), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land.
This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but Allah has the excellent return with Him.)( 3:14 ) Allah the Exalted also sets a parable for this life, declaring that its joys are fading and its delights are perishable, saying that life is, كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ ( Like a rain (Ghayth ),) which is the rain that comes down to mankind, after they had felt despair.
Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُواْ ( And He it is Who sends down the Ghayth (rain ) after they have despaired.)( 42:28 ) Allah's statement, أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ( thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; ) meaning that farmers admire the vegetation that grows in the aftermath of rain.
And just as farmers admire vegetation, the disbelievers admire this life; they are the most eager to acquire the traits of life, and life is most dear to them, ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرّاً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَاماً ( afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. ) meaning, that vegetation soon turns yellow in color, after being fresh and green.
After that, the green fades away and becomes scattered pieces of dust.
This is the parable of this worldly life, it starts young, then matures and then turns old and feeble.
This is also the parable of mankind in this life; they are young and strong in the beginning.
In this stage of life, they look youthful and handsome.
Slowly, they begin growing older, their mannerism changes and their strength weakens.
They then grow old and feeble; moving becomes difficult for them, while doing easy things becomes beyond their ability.
Allah the Exalted said, اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفاً وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ ( Allah is He Who created you in (a state of ) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave ( you ) weakness and grey hair.
He creates what He wills.
And He is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful.)( 30:54 ) This parable indicates the near demise of this life and the imminent end of it, while in contrast, the Hereafter is surely coming.
Those who hear this parable should, therefore, be aware of the significance of the Hereafter and feel eagerness in the goodness that it contains, وَفِى الاٌّخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَنٌ وَمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَآ إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( But in the Hereafter (there is ) a severe torment, and ( there is ) forgiveness from Allah and ( His ) pleasure.
And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.) meaning, surely, the Hereafter that will certainly come contains two things either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure.
Allah the Exalted said, وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment. ) meaning, this life is only a form of enjoyment that deceives those who incline to it.
Surely, those who recline to this life will admire it and feel that it is dear to them, so much so, that they might think that this is the only life, no life or dwelling after it.
Yet, in reality, this life is insignificant as compared to the Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَلْجَنَّةُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ شِرَاكِ نَعْلِهِ، وَالنَّارُ مِثْلُ ذلِك» ( Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap on his shoe, and so is the (Hell ) Fire.) Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith through the narration of Ath-Thawri.
This Hadith indicates the close proximity of both good and evil in relation to mankind.
If this is the case, then this is the reason Allah the Exalted encouraged mankind to rush to perform acts of righteousness and obedience and to avoid the prohibitions.
By doing so, their sins and errors will be forgiven and they will acquire rewards and an exalted status.
Allah the Exalted said, سَابِقُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, ) Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah, وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَـوَتُ وَالاٌّرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ( And march forth in the way (to ) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who have Taqwa.)( 3:133 ) Allah said here, أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ( prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers.
That is the grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with.
And Allah is the Owner of great bounty. ) meaning, "This, that Allah has qualified them for, is all a part of His favor, bounty and compassion." We mentioned a Hadith collected in the Sahih in which the poor emigrants said to the Messenger ﷺ, "O Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and permanent enjoyment." He asked, «وَمَا ذَاكَ؟» ( Why is that ) They said, "They pray like us and fast as we do.
However, they give in charity, whereas we cannot do that, and that free servants, whereas we cannot afford it." The Prophet said, «أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ سَبَقْتُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ، وَلَا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ: تُسَبِّحُونَ وَتُكَبِّرُونَ وَتُحَمِّدُونَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِين» ( Shall I tell you of a good deed that, if you acted upon, you would catch up with those who have surpassed you none would overtake you and be better than you, except those who might do the same.
Say, "Glorious is Allah," "Allah is Most Great," and "Praise be to Allah," thirty three times each after every prayer. ) They later came back and said, "Our wealthy brethren heard what we did and they started doing the same." Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, «ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاء» This is the favor of Allah that He gives to whom He wills.)

Allah then said to all created beings: ( Race ) in relation to repentance of your sins ( one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden ) and for a Garden by means of righteous works ( whereof the breadth is as the breadth of the heavens and the earth ) where they to be joined with each other, ( which is in store ) which is created and prepared ( for those who believe in Allah and His messengers ) from among all nations. ( Such ) forgiveness, Allah’s good pleasure and the Garden ( is the bounty of Allah ) are all bounties from Allah, ( which He bestoweth upon whom He will ) upon whoever deserves it, ( and Allah is of Infinite Bounty ) in bestowing Paradise.

Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

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