56. Al-Waqiah (That Which Must Come To Pass)
Mecca Period
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَالسَّابِقُونَ
السَّابِقُونَ
﴿١٠﴾
56: 10. And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter).
C5226. Foremost (in Faith)":
there are two meanings, and both are implied
Those who have reached the highest degree in spiritual understanding, such as the great prophets and teachers of mankind, will also take precedence in the Hereafter.
Those who are the first in time-the quickest and readiest-to accept Allah's Message-will have the first place in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Verses 8, 9 and 10 mention the three main categories or classifications after Judgment. In the subsequent verses their happiness or misery are described. This category, Foremost in Faith, is nearest to Allah.
أُوْلَئِكَ
الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
﴿١١﴾
11. These will be those Nearest to Allah:
C5227. See n. 5223 above.
Nearness to Allah is the test of the highest Bliss. (R).
56: 12. In Gardens of Bliss:
ثُلَّةٌ
مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
﴿١٣﴾
56: 13. A number of people from those of old,
C5228. Of great Prophets and Teachers there were many before the time of the holy Prophet Muhammad. As he was the last of the Prophets, he and the great Teachers under his Dispensation will be comparatively fewer in number, but their teaching is the sum and flower of all mankind's spiritual experience.
وَقَلِيلٌ
مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ
﴿١٤﴾
56: 14. And a few from those of later times.
-------------------------------------
[li asha-bil yamin]
56: 38. For the companions of the Right Hand.
ثُلَّةٌ
مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
﴿٣٩﴾
56: 39. A (goodly) number from those of old,
C5241. This class-the righteous-will be a large company in Heaven, belonging to all the ages of the world. Cf. n. 5228 to 56:13 above.
Such is the unbounded Bounty of Allah.
وَثُلَّةٌ
مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ
﴿٤٠﴾
56: 40. And a (goodly) number from those of later times.
Asad’s Version:
[Those who are sabiqun, muqarrabun, mimanah]
56:10 But the foremost shall be [they who in life were] the foremost [in faith and good works]:
(56:11) they who were [always] drawn close unto God!
(56:12) In gardens of bliss [will they dwell] –
(56:13) a good many of those of olden times,
(56:14) but [only] a few of later times. 4
(56:38) with those who have attained to righteousness: 15
(56:39) a good many of olden times,
(56:40) and a good many of later times. 16
[[Asad’s notes - 4 The above stress on the "many" and the "few" contains an allusion to the progressive
diminution, in the historical sense, of the element of excellence in men's faith and ethical achievements. (See also note on verses 39-40.)
15 I.e., equal in dignity with all other inmates of paradise. As regards the term atrab (sing, tirb), rendered above - as well as in 38:52 and 78:33 - as "well-matched", there is no doubt that it primarily denotes "[persons] of equal age" (a meaning adopted by most of the commentators); however, as pointed out by all philological authorities, this term is also used in the sense of "[persons] equal in quality", that is, "well-matched" : a significance which, to my mind, is eminently appropriate here inasmuch as
it is meant to stress the equal excellence of all who have attained to righteousness, whether they be men or women; or, alternatively, the equal attraction towards one another and, thus, a mutual fulfilment of their spiritual and emotional needs; or both of the above meanings.
16 In contrast with "the foremost", who have always been "drawn close unto God" - and of whom there are less and less as time goes on (see note 4 above) - there will always be many of those who attain to righteousness after initial stumbling and sinning (see note 10). ]]