وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ 19
Translations
And what can make you know what is ʿilliyyūn?
Transliteration
Wa mā adrāka mā 'illiyyūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah begins the description of 'Illiyyūn (the Highest Places of Paradise), using the rhetorical device 'wa mā adrāka' (and what will make you know) to emphasize the incomprehensibility and grandeur of this divine realm to human understanding. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'Illiyyūn as the exalted station in the seventh heaven where the records of the righteous are kept, representing the pinnacle of honor and proximity to Allah. The ayah underscores that the reality and majesty of Paradise's highest stations transcend mortal comprehension.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the final section of Surah Al-Mutaffifin, which contrasts the fate of the defrauders with the reward of the pious. Following the warning to those who cheat in weights and measures, this passage shifts focus to the ultimate destiny of the righteous, providing hope and encouragement to believers. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when believers faced hardship and needed assurance of divine justice and reward.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the record of deeds: 'The deeds of the son of Adam are presented to Allah on every Monday and Thursday, and whoever finds his record raised up to 'Illiyyūn will rejoice' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83:18-21 is referenced in various hadith collections regarding the preservation of records of the righteous.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the greatest rewards prepared by Allah for the righteous far exceed human imagination and comprehension, encouraging steadfastness in faith and good deeds. It instills hope that despite worldly struggles, Allah preserves and honors the records of those who act with integrity and devotion.