Continuing in the signs of Sura Ya Sin. What of those that are obedient in this life? What do they have to look forward to?

36:55إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ الْيَوْمَ فِي شُغُلٍ فَاكِهُونَ

Inna as-haba aljannati alyawma fee shughulin fakihoona

Surely, on that Day, the companions of the garden will be busy with their joy;

A Garden, but not just any ordinary garden, this one is special and eternal. Those that go there enjoy the highest of pleasures and are treated with such refined goodness. As is described in the next ayah.

36:56هُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُهُمْ فِي ظِلالٍ عَلَى الأرَائِكِ مُتَّكِئُونَ

Hum waazwa-juhum fee thilalin ‘ala al-ara-iki muttaki-oona

they and their spouses will be in shady groves reclining on soft couches.

And not alone but accompanied by friends and spouses. And here shade can be thought of as a metaphor for happiness and relaxing on soft couches brings to mind a state of peace and inner harmony – the very essence of the meaning of the root salama.

36:57لَهُمْ فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَلَهُمْ مَا يَدَّعُونَ

Lahum feeha fakihatun walahum ma yadda’oona

They will have all kinds of fruit and they will get whatever they call for;

So just in the physical real, remember cool shade and fruit and being treated in a dignified way, who would not want that. We all can appreciate the blessing of the shade in the searing heat of the dessert, and the abundance of food. And the personal blessing of a dignified existence, sitting on a throne, no longer subject to the whims and vagaries of the world and all it can do to drag one down. And what else?

36:58سَلامٌ قَوْلا مِنْ رَبٍّ رَحِيمٍ

Salamun qawlan min rabbin raheemin

“they will be greeted with the word “Salaam (Peace)” from the Lord of Mercy (Allah).

And the ultimate blessing, a greeting (salams) from the lord himself.

36:59وَامْتَازُوا الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ

Wa-imtazoo alyawma ayyuha almujrimoona

And to the sinners He will say: “Get aside today, you criminals!

أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَنْ لا تَعْبُدُوا

36:60 الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ

alam a’had ilaykum ya banee adama an la ta’budoo ash-shaytana innahu lakum ‘aduwwun mubeenun

Did I not enjoin you, O children of Adam, not to worship Shaitan, who is your open enemy,

So those that did not act truly and with faith and good actions are separated not only from their loved ones and from their friends but also from Allah (SWT).

Part 2

These signs are of extreme value to us. On one level we must take them literally as a description of what will happen to us on that last day. Those who have been obedient, who have had Taqwa and have been true to their faith and their rabb will enjoy the benefits. Those who have had faith and have done righteous deeds. They will dwell with their spouses and their families and close friends in a beautiful place where they will be cared for in every way. In addition they will have the blessing of Allah (SWT) greeting them with salaams. And those that do not will be separated from then and from their lord because of their disobedience.

But on another level we must look at this as a message about our condition in this life as well. Remember that rassul Allah (SAW) said that each of us takes into the afterlife, that which we gained here so why not start now to become the best we can?

The dwellers of the garden are better than those who are not.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا

الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَخْبَتُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ

11:23 أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

Inna allatheena amanoo wa’amiloo as-salihati waakhbatoo ila rabbihim ola-ika as-sahabu aljannati hum feeha khalidoona

Truly, only those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds and humble themselves before their sustainer – only they are destined for paradise, and there they shall abide.

مَثَلُ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ كَالأعْمَى

وَالأصَمِّ وَالْبَصِيرِ

وَالسَّمِيعِ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ

11:24 مَثَلا أَفَلا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Mathalu alfareeqayni kaal-a’ma waal-asammi waalbaseeri waalssamee’i hal yastawiyani mathalan afala tathakkaroona

These two kinds of man may be likened to the blind and the deaf and the seeing and the hearing, Can these two be deemed alike in their nature? Will you not then keep this in mind?