Tafseer of The Thunder · Ar-Ra'd · 13:29
Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Abū Jaʿfar said: Allah the Exalted says: Those who believed and performed righteous deeds — that is, the righteous deeds, which is acting in accordance with what their Lord commanded them — (ṭūbā is for them).
"Ṭūbā" stands in the nominative because of "lahum" (for them).
Some scholars of Basra and Kufa said: that is a nominative, just as one says in colloquial speech: "weyl (woe) to ʿAmr."
Abū Jaʿfar said: The nominative was preferred for (ṭūbā) because of the elegance of joining to it without the "lām"; for one says "ṭūbāka" (blessed are you), just as one says "waylaka" and "waybaka," and if joining to it without the "lām" were not elegant, the accusative in it would be more elegant and more fluent, just as the accusative in "taʿsan li-Zayd, wa-buʿdan lahu wa-suḥqan" (ruin to Zayd, and may he be far off and abased) is more elegant, because joining without the "lām" in it is not elegant.
The exegetes differed concerning the interpretation of His word (ṭūbā is for them).
Some said: its meaning is: excellent is what they have.
Mention of who said that:
20363 — Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Barūrī, from the people of Kufa, related to me and said: Abū Zakariyyāʾ al-Kalbī related to us, on the authority of ʿUmar ibn Nāfiʿ — he said: ʿIkrima was asked about "ṭūbā lahum" — he said: excellent is what they have.
20364 — Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq related to us and said: Abū Aḥmad related to us and said: ʿAmr ibn Nāfiʿ related to us, on the authority of ʿIkrima, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: excellent is what they have.
20365 — Al-Ḥārith related to me and said: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz related to us and said: ʿAmr ibn Nāfiʿ related to me — he said: I heard ʿIkrima, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: excellent is what they have.
Others said: its meaning is: blessedness for them.
Mention of who said that:
20366 — Abū Hishām related to us and said: Abū Khālid al-Aḥmar related to us, on the authority of Juwaybir, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: blessedness for them.
20367 — Al-Muthanná related to me and said: Isḥāq related to us and said: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Maghrāʾ related to us, on the authority of Juwaybir, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk, identically.
20368 — [isnād link] — he said: ʿAmr ibn ʿAwn related to us and said: Hushayim informed us, on the authority of Juwaybir, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk, identically.
Others said: its meaning is: joy and coolness of the eyes.
Mention of who said that:
20369 — ʿAlī ibn Dāwūd and al-Muthanná ibn Ibrāhīm related to me — they said: ʿAbd Allāh related to us — he said: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he says: joy and coolness of the eyes.
Others said: its meaning is: the good for them.
Mention of who said that:
20370 — Bishr related to us and said: Yazīd related to us and said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he says: the good for them; it is a word from the Arabic language.
20371 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us and said: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: (ṭūbā is for them) — this is an Arabic word; one says to someone "ṭūbā laka" — that is: you have obtained the good.
Others said: its meaning is: the good for them.
Mention of who said that:
20372 — Abū Hishām related to us and said: Ibn Yamān related to us and said: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of Manṣūr, on the authority of Ibrāhīm — he said: the good for them.
20373 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us and said: Jarīr related to us, on the authority of Manṣūr, on the authority of Ibrāhīm, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: the good and the honor that Allah granted them.
Others said: (ṭūbā is for them) is a name from the names of the Garden (janna), and the meaning of the word is: the Garden for them.
Mention of who said that:
20374 — Abū Kurayb related to us and said: Ibn Yamān related to us, on the authority of Ashʿath, on the authority of Jaʿfar, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: a name of the Garden, in Ethiopic.
20375 — Abū Hishām related to us and said: Ibn Yamān related to us, on the authority of Ashʿath, on the authority of Jaʿfar, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: a name of the soil of the Garden, in Ethiopic.
20376 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us and said: Yaʿqūb related to us, on the authority of Jaʿfar, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Mashjūj, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: (ṭūbā) is a name of the Garden in the Indian language.
20377 — Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us and said: Dāwūd ibn Mihrān related to us and said: Yaʿqūb related to us, on the authority of Jaʿfar ibn Abī al-Mughīra, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Mashjūj — he said: the name of the Garden in the Indian language is (ṭūbā).
20378 — Abū Hishām related to us and said: Ibn Yamān related to us and said: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, on the authority of ʿIkrima: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: the Garden.
20379 — [isnād link] — Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us and said: Shabāba related to us and said: Warqāʾ related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: the Garden.
20380 — Al-Qāsim related to us and said: al-Ḥusayn related to us and said: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid, identically.
20381 — Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me and said: my father related to me and said: my uncle related to me and said: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: (Those who believed and performed righteous deeds — ṭūbā is for them and an excellent final destination) — he said: when Allah created the Garden and completed it, He said: (Those who believed and performed righteous deeds — ṭūbā is for them and an excellent final destination) — and that was when it pleased Him.
20382 — Aḥmad related to us and said: Abū Aḥmad related to us and said: Sharīk related to us, on the authority of Layth, on the authority of Mujāhid: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: the Garden.
Others said: (ṭūbā is for them) is a tree in the Garden.
Mention of who said that:
20383 — Muḥammad ibn Bashshār related to us and said: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān related to us and said: Qurra ibn Khālid related to us, on the authority of Mūsā ibn Sālim — he said: Ibn ʿAbbās said: (ṭūbā is for them) — a tree in the Garden.
20384 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us and said: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of al-Ashʿath ibn ʿAbd Allāh, on the authority of Shahr ibn Ḥawshab, on the authority of Abū Hurayra: (ṭūbā is for them) — a tree in the Garden, to which it is said: "Burst open for My servant with whatever he wishes!" Then it bursts open for him with horses with their saddles and bridles, and with camels with their halters, and with whatever he wishes of clothing.
20385 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us and said: Yaʿqūb related to us, on the authority of Jaʿfar, on the authority of Shahr ibn Ḥawshab — he said: (ṭūbā) is a tree in the Garden; all the trees of the Garden are from it; its branches are beyond the wall of the Garden.
20386 — Al-Muthanná related to me and said: Suwayd ibn Naṣr related to us and said: Ibn al-Mubārak informed us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of al-Ashʿath ibn ʿAbd Allāh, on the authority of Shahr ibn Ḥawshab, on the authority of Abū Hurayra — he said: In the Garden is a tree that is called (ṭūbā). Allah says to it: "Burst open" — then he mentioned something similar to the report of Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā, on the authority of Ibn Thawr.
20387 — Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us and said: ʿAbd al-Jabbār related to us and said: Marwān related to us and said: al-ʿAlāʾ informed us, on the authority of Shamr ibn ʿAṭiyya, concerning His word: (ṭūbā is for them) — he said: it is a tree in the Garden that is called (ṭūbā).
20388 — Al-Muthanná related to me and said: Suwayd related to us and said: Ibn al-Mubārak informed us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of Manṣūr, on the authority of Ḥassān Abū al-Ashras, on the authority of Mugīth ibn Sumayy — he said: (ṭūbā) is a tree in the Garden; in the Garden there is no house but a branch of it hangs into it; then a bird comes flying and alights; then he calls it, and he eats from one side of it dried meat and from the other side roasted meat, and then says: "Fly!" — and it flies away.
20389 — [isnād link] — he said: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us and said: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of some people of al-Shām — he said: Truly your Lord took a pearl, placed it in His palms, rolled it between His hands, then planted it in the midst of the people of the Garden, and said to it: "Stretch yourself out until you attain My good pleasure." It did so; when it stood upright, from its roots burst forth the rivers of the Garden, and it is (ṭūbā).
20390 — Al-Faḍl ibn al-Ṣabbāḥ related to us and said: Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Ṣanʿānī related to us and said: ʿAbd al-Ṣamad ibn Maʿqil related to me — he heard Wahb say: In the Garden is a tree that is called (ṭūbā); a rider rides in its shade for a hundred years and does not traverse it; its blossoms are linen garments, its leaves woven fabrics, its branches ambergris, its soil chalcedony, its dust camphor, its clay musk; from its roots flow rivers of wine, milk, and honey, and it is a gathering place for the people of the Garden. While they are gathered in their assembly, angels come to them from their Lord, leading well-bred riding-camels with chains of gold; their faces are like lamps because of their beauty, their hair like the soft wool of the goat-haired one because of its softness; upon them resting-couches whose boards are of chalcedony, and whose sides are of gold; their coverings of fine and thick silk fabric. Then, bowing down, they say: Truly our Lord has sent us to you so that you may visit Him and pronounce peace over Him. Then they mount them; they are swifter than the bird and softer than a mattress, well-bred camels without drivers. The man rides beside his brother while addressing him and conversing with him; the ear of one mount does not touch the ear of the other, and the shin of one does not touch the shin of the other. Even the tree moves out of their way so that it does not bring separation between a man and his brother. Then they come to the Merciful, the Compassionate; He unveils to them His noble countenance so that they behold Him. When they see Him they say: "O Allah, You are Peace, and from You comes Peace, and to You belong majesty and honor." Then He, blessed and exalted, says: "I am Peace, and from Me comes Peace, and upon you My mercy and My love have been made worthy. Welcome, My servants who feared Me in the unseen and obeyed My command." Then they say: "Our Lord, we have not worshipped You as You ought to be worshipped, and we have not estimated You at Your true worth; permit us to fall down prostrate before You." Then Allah says: It is not a domain of toil or worship; it is a domain of kingship and glory, and I have removed from you the burden of worship; ask Me whatever you wish, for to every man among you is his wish. Then they ask; even the most modest in his wish says: "Lord, the people vied in the world for the world, and it became narrow for them; Lord, then give me all that they had from the day You created it until the world ended." Then Allah says: "Truly you are today modest in your wish, and you have asked below your rank; this is for you from Me, and I shall reward you with My rank, for in My gift there is no harshness nor stinting." Then He says: "Show My servants what their wishes did not reach and what did not occur to their minds." Then they show them until they fulfill their wishes that are in their hearts. Then among what is shown to them well-bred horses are presented, four by four; upon every four a resting-couch of a single chalcedony, upon every resting-couch an empty golden dome, in every dome a mattress of the mattresses of the Garden, one upon the other, in every dome two maidens of the high-eyed virgins, upon every maiden two garments of the garments of the Garden; there is in the Garden no color but it is in them, and no good fragrance but they are imbued with it; the light of their faces penetrates the thickness of the dome so that whoever sees them thinks they are outside the dome; one sees their marrow through the upper part of their shins like a white thread through a red chalcedony; they stand above the others as the sun stands above stones, or more; and their awe is equal. Then he enters in upon them; they greet him and kiss him and embrace him, and they say: "By Allah, we did not think that Allah would create anyone like you." Then Allah commands the angels, and they lead them in rows through the Garden until every man among them reaches his dwelling place that is prepared for him.
20391 — Al-Muthanná related to me and said: Isḥāq related to us and said: ʿAlī ibn Jarīr related to us, on the authority of Ḥammād — he said: a tree in the Garden, in the house of every believer a branch of it hangs.
20392 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us and said: Jarīr related to us, on the authority of Manṣūr, on the authority of Ḥassān ibn Abī al-Ashras, on the authority of Mugīth ibn Sumayy — he said: (ṭūbā) is a tree in the Garden; if a man rode on a young camel and rode around it, he would not reach the point from which he set out until he dies of old age. In every house of the people of the Garden a branch of that tree hangs over them; when they wish to eat of the fruit, it bends down for them and they eat of it what they wish. Then a bird comes and eats dried and roasted meat of it as it wishes, and then flies away.
A report was transmitted from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that corresponds with what those said who said that it is a tree.
Mention of the narration concerning that:
20393 — Sulaymān ibn Dāwūd al-Qawmasī related to me and said: Abū Tawba al-Rabīʿ ibn Nāfiʿ related to us and said: Muʿāwiya ibn Sallām related to us, on the authority of Zayd: he heard Abū Sallām — he said: ʿĀmir ibn Zayd al-Bakālī related to us: he heard ʿUtba ibn ʿAbd al-Sulamī say: A bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah, is there fruit in the Garden? He said: Yes, in it is a tree that is called (ṭūbā); it overcanopies the Garden. He said: Which tree of our earth does it resemble? He said: It resembles nothing of the trees of your earth, but have you ever been to al-Shām? He said: No, O Messenger of Allah. He said: Well, it resembles a tree that is called "the Walnut" — which grows on a single trunk and then its top spreads out. He said: How large is its trunk? He said: If a young camel of your family's camels were to circle it, its two collarbones would be broken from old age before it had encircled its base.
20394 — Al-Ḥasan ibn Shubayyib related to us and said: Muḥammad ibn Ziyād al-Jazarī related to us, on the authority of Furāt ibn Abī al-Furāt, on the authority of Muʿāwiya ibn Qurra, on the authority of his father — he said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: (ṭūbā is for them and an excellent final destination) — a tree that Allah planted with His own hand, and breathed into it His spirit; it grew up with ornaments and garments; its branches can be seen from beyond the wall of the Garden.
20395 — Yūnus related to me and said: Ibn Wahb informed us and said: ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥārith informed me, that Darrāj related to him, that Abū al-Haytham related to him, on the authority of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī, on the authority of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: that a man said to him: O Messenger of Allah, what is ṭūbā? He said: A tree in the Garden, a journey of a hundred years; the clothing of the people of the Garden comes forth from its calyxes.
Abū Jaʿfar said: On the basis of this interpretation which we have transmitted from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with its narration, the view concerning the nominative of His word: (ṭūbā is for them) ought to be different from the view which we transmitted from the grammarians. That is, namely, that the report of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ states that "ṭūbā" is the name of a tree in the Garden; if that is so, then it is a proper name like Zayd and ʿAmr. If that is so, there is for His word: (and an excellent final destination) no possibility other than the nominative, joining to "ṭūbā."
As for His word: (and an excellent final destination) — that means: an excellent place of return. As:
20396 — Al-Muthanná related to me and said: ʿAmr ibn ʿAwn related to us and said: Hushayim informed us, on the authority of Juwaybir, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk: (and an excellent final destination) — he said: an excellent place of return.