Surah Al-Hajj 22:23

The Reward of the Believers

When Allah tells us about the state of the people of Hell -- we seek refuge with Allah from that state of punishment, vengeance, burning and chains -- and the garments of fire that have been prepared for them, He then tells us about the state of the people of Paradise -- we ask Allah by His grace and kindness to admit us therein. He tells us:

(Truly, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous good deeds, to Gardens underneath which rivers flow,) means, these rivers flow throughout its regions, beneath its trees and palaces, and its inhabitants direct them to go wherever they want.

(wherein they will be adorned) -- with jewelry --

(with bracelets of gold and pearls) means, on their arms, as the Prophet said in the agreed-upon Hadith:

(The jewelry of the believer in Paradise will reach as far as his Wudu' reached.)

(and their garments therein will be of silk. ) in contrast to the garments of fire worn by the inhabitants of Hell, the people of Paradise will have garments of silk, Sundus and Istabraq fine green silk and gold embroidery, as Allah says:

(Their garments will be of green Sundus, and Istabraq. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. (And it will be said to them): "Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been accepted.") 76:21-22. In the Sahih, it says:

(Do not wear fine silk or gold embroidery in this world, for whoever wears them in this world, will not wear them in the Hereafter.) `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said, "Those who do not wear silk in the Hereafter are those who will not enter Paradise. Allah says:

(and their garments therein will be of silk)"

(And they are guided unto goodly speech.) This is like the Ayat:

(And those who believed and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow -- to dwell therein forever, with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: "Salam (peace!)") 14:23

(And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Salamun `Alaykum (peace be upon you!)", for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!") 13:23-24,

(No evil vain talk will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of, "Peace! Peace! (Salaman! Salaman!).") 56:25-26 They will be guided to a place in which they will hear good speech.

(Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.) 25:75, unlike the scorn which will be heaped upon the people of Hell by way of rebuke, when they are told:

(`Taste the torment of burning!")

(and they are guided to the path of Him Who is Worthy of all praises. ) to a place in which they will give praise to their Lord for all His kindness, blessings and favors towards them, as it says in the Sahih Hadith:

(They will be inspired with words of glorification and praise, just as they are inspired with breath.) Some scholars of Tafsir said that the Ayah,

(And they are guided unto goodly speech) refers to the Qur'an; and it was said that it means La ilaha illallah or words of remembrance prescribed in Islam. And the Ayah:

(and they are guided to the path of Him Who is Worthy of all praises.) means, the straight path in this world. These interpretations do not contradict that mentioned above. And Allah knows best.

Pada ayat ini Allah menerangkan berbagai kenikmatan yang akan diterima oleh orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal saleh yang membersihkan diri dan hatinya serta selalu berusaha mendekatkan diri kepada Allah. Berbagai kenikmatan yang akan diterima ialah:

1. Mereka akan dimasukkan ke dalam surga yang penuh kenikmatan, yang di bawahnya mengalir sungai-sungai.

2. Mereka diberi perhiasan yang indah, seperti gelang-gelang dari emas, mahkota yang bertahtakan permata dan mutiara yang indah.

3. Bagi mereka disediakan pakaian sutera yang indah.

4. Mereka diberi petunjuk dan pelajaran, sehingga mereka mengucapkan perkataan yang sopan dan sedap didengar, mengerjakan perbuatan yang menyenangkan hati orang, dapat bergaul dengan baik dengan penduduk surga yang lain, hidup bersaudara, dan saling kasih mengasihi.

Sebagaimana keterangan Allah tentang azab di atas, maka gambaran kenikmatan dan kesenangan yang digambarkan pada ayat ini, sebagai pahala yang akan diterima orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal saleh di akhirat nanti adalah sama dengan kenikmatan dan kesenangan yang selalu diimpikan oleh manusia selama mereka hidup di dunia. Pada umumnya manusia waktu hidup di dunia menginginkan kekayaan yang berlimpah-ruah, mempunyai kedudukan yang terhormat dan kekuasaan yang tidak terbatas, mempunyai istri-istri yang cantik dan perkakas rumah tangga yang serba mewah.

Sekalipun Allah telah menjelaskan dalam ayat-ayat-Nya hal-hal yang demikian itu, namun masalah surga dan neraka itu termasuk hal yang gaib bagi manusia, hanya Allah sajalah yang mengetahui hakikat yang sebenarnya, tetapi kaum Muslimin wajib percaya bahwa surga dan neraka itu pasti ada. Gambaran yang diberikan Allah itu, merupakan sebagian dari kesenangan yang dijanjikan itu. Kesenangan yang sebenarnya lebih dari gambaran itu karena bagi manusia sendiri tidak ada sesuatu yang dapat dijadikan sebagai perbandingan. Yang jelas ialah bahwa orang-orang yang beriman akan mengalami kesenangan dan kenikmatan yang tiada taranya, belum pernah dirasakan selama hidup di dunia, semua menyenangkan hati, perasaan, pikiran, penglihatan, pendengaran dan sebagainya.