What is the meaning of the saying of the Exalted: "And for those who fear the standing before their Lord are two gardens," and what is the meaning of His saying: "Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves"?
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The questioner : He says: What is the meaning of the saying of the Exalted: [Ar-Rahman 55:46] from Surat al-Rahman, and His saying: [Ar-Ra'd 13:11]?
The Shaykh : The meaning of the first verse is that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, informs, in a manner that constitutes a promise, that for the one who fears the standing before his Lord, there are two gardens.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And Allah the Exalted has made clear what is in these two gardens of permanent bliss, of what is eaten, drunk, and of what is married, to encourage the fear of the standing before one's Lord, that is, the fear of the standing in which one stands before Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This fear necessitates uprightness upon the religion of Allah and worshipping Allah the Exalted with the right worship, for the one who fears Allah, Mighty and Majestic, watches Him and guards against His sins, commits to His obedience, and the reward of the one who obeys Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and fears Him, is Paradise, as Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:[Ali 'Imran 3:133-134] to the end of what Allah mentioned of their descriptions.
As for the second verse, which is the saying of the Exalted:[Ar-Ra'd 13:11], its meaning is that if a person is upright in the obedience of Allah, then Allah the Exalted bestows upon him and increases His blessings upon him, as He said: [Ibrahim 14:7]. But if he deviates from the obedience of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, then Allah the Exalted says: [Ibrahim 14:7], and He says, Glorified and Exalted is He: [As-Saf 61:5]. So as long as the person is in the obedience of Allah, fulfilling His command and avoiding His prohibition, let him be glad of good and of ... blessings and of the realization of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nahl 16:97]. But if he changes what is within himself from turning to Allah and facing Him, and confronts Allah the Exalted with disobedience by doing what is forbidden and leaving what is commanded, then Allah the Exalted changes this blessing for him.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
This question is from the listener J. A. A., an Egyptian working in Jeddah.
But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens -
ولمن خاف مقام ربه جنتانIndeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves
إن الله لا يغير ما بقوم حتى يغيروا ما بأنفسهمThe Shaykh : The meaning of the first verse is that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, informs, in a manner that constitutes a promise, that for the one who fears the standing before his Lord, there are two gardens.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And Allah the Exalted has made clear what is in these two gardens of permanent bliss, of what is eaten, drunk, and of what is married, to encourage the fear of the standing before one's Lord, that is, the fear of the standing in which one stands before Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This fear necessitates uprightness upon the religion of Allah and worshipping Allah the Exalted with the right worship, for the one who fears Allah, Mighty and Majestic, watches Him and guards against His sins, commits to His obedience, and the reward of the one who obeys Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and fears Him, is Paradise, as Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said:
(133) And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous (134) Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good;
وسارعوا إلى مغفرة من ربكم وجنة عرضها السماوات والأرض أعدت للمتقين الذين ينفقون في السراء والضراء والكاظمين الغيظ والعافين عن الناس والله يحب المحسنينAs for the second verse, which is the saying of the Exalted:
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves
إن الله لا يغير ما بقوم حتى يغيروا ما بأنفسهمIf you are grateful, I will surely increase you
لئن شكرتم لأزيدنكمbut if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' "
ولئن كفرتم إن عذابي لشديدAnd when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
فلما زاغوا أزاغ الله قلوبهم والله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقينWhoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.
من عمل صالحا من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فلنحيينه حياة طيبة ولنجزينهم أجرهم بأحسن ما كانوا يعملونThe questioner : May Allah bless you.
This question is from the listener J. A. A., an Egyptian working in Jeddah.