Sūrat Hūd
Section 20 of 24 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
The Wretched and the Fortunate
Then, upon the Day of Judgement, there are very prominent verses here, verses 106 and 107:
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ
“As for those who are wretched, they shall be in the Fire. For them there is (nothing but) crying and howling.” (11:106)
Fa-ammā alladhīna shaqū fa-fī al-nār. Here the outcome of this world and then of the Hereafter is set out: those who have been wretched will be in the Fire in the Hereafter, and will remain there for ever. But wa ammā alladhīna suʿidū — and this is of great interest, at verse 108:
۞ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ ۖ عَطَآءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ
“As for those who are blessed, they shall be in Paradise living there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth remain intact, unless your Lord wills (otherwise), It will be an award never to be ceased.” (11:108)
Those who will be fortunate — for this means fortunate; those who will be successful — will be in the gardens, therein for ever, as long as the heavens and the earth endure, illā mā shāʾa rabbuk, except what your Lord wills; ʿaṭāʾan ghayra majdhūdh. Unpack only those words, ʿaṭāʾan ghayra majdhūdh: this is a gift from Allah, a giving from Allah (swt) which is endless. And because these people used to give in the world, they will now be given. They were kind and generous souls; they would give for the sake of Allah; they would give their time, they would give their love, they would give their wealth. And Allah (swt) will give to them with an unending giving.