What is the interpretation of the noble verse: “And those who believed and whose offspring followed them in faith—We will join their offspring with them, and We will not diminish anything from their deeds”?
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The questioner : What is the interpretation of the noble verse: [At-Tur 52:21]?
The Shaykh : When Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) mentioned His favor upon the people of Paradise, stating that they will be reclining on arranged couches, He said:[Ad-Dukhan 44:54] Then He said: [At-Tur 52:21] So mentioning the offspring after mentioning the spouses is the most fitting thing: [At-Tur 52:21] By this, it is meant that the offspring who followed their fathers in faith, Allah will join the offspring with their fathers in the ranks of Paradise, even if the offspring are of a lower rank than the fathers. And if Allah joins the offspring with the fathers in Paradise, that does not diminish the ranks of the fathers in any way. For this reason, He said: [At-Tur 52:21] Meaning, We did not diminish the fathers from their deeds in any way when We joined the offspring with them.
And the intended meaning of “offspring” here, and Allah knows best, is those who did not marry and have offspring. As for one who married and had offspring, he is independent with his offspring in the rank written for him. Because if we did not say that, it would follow that all the people of Paradise would be in one single rank. And His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He):[At-Tur 52:21] contains evidence that a person is not wronged from his deeds in any way. But his reward may be increased as a favor from Allah, such as the increase in the reward of the offspring so that they are joined with their fathers. This is a favor. But the fathers are not diminished in exchange for this increase, because: [At-Tur 52:21].
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward and bless you and your knowledge.
And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍThe Shaykh : When Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) mentioned His favor upon the people of Paradise, stating that they will be reclining on arranged couches, He said:
And We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
وَزَوَّجْنَاهُمْ بِحُورٍ عِينٍAnd those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍAnd those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْand We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds
وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍAnd the intended meaning of “offspring” here, and Allah knows best, is those who did not marry and have offspring. As for one who married and had offspring, he is independent with his offspring in the rank written for him. Because if we did not say that, it would follow that all the people of Paradise would be in one single rank. And His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He):
Every person, for what he earned, is retained.
كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌEvery person, for what he earned, is retained.
كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward and bless you and your knowledge.