Overview (Verses 69 - 70)

The Reward of Obedience
 
At the end of this passage, the sūrah once again tries to arouse people’s feelings, raising before them the prospect of the most noble companionship in the life to come: “All who obey God and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviate from the truth, and the martyrs and the righteous ones. How goodly a company are these! Such is God’s bounty, and sufficient it is that God knows all.” (Verses 69-70) It is a prospect to tempt every heart, even with the slightest degree of goodness and the faintest hope of attaining a good position in the life to come, with noble companions, enjoying God’s endless favours. To be in the company of such a group can only come about by God’s grace. No human being, devout as he or she may be, can ever hope to attain such a grade merely by their devotion. They attain it only through God’s abounding grace.
 
It is fitting here that we should reflect on how the Prophet’s Companions yearned for his company in the life to come as well. Some of them could not even contemplate parting with him, when he was still alive among them. When this verse was revealed, their hearts were filled with hope.
 
Al-Ţabarī relates on the authority of Sa`īd ibn Jubayr that a man from the Anşār looked depressed when he came to the Prophet. The Prophet asked him the cause of his sorrow. He said: “It is something that I have been thinking of.” When the Prophet asked him about it, the man said: “We come to see you in the morning and in the evening, look at you and sit with you. Tomorrow, you will be raised to be in the company of other prophets in Heaven,

The Prophet gave him no reply. Then this verse was revealed, stating: “All who obey God and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets...” The Prophet sent someone to the man to give him this happy news.
 
A different version of this report is given by Abū Bakr ibn Mardawaih on `Ā’ishah’s authority: “A man said to the Prophet, ‘Messenger of God, you are dearer to me than myself, my family and my children. I may be at home when I mention you, and I cannot wait to come and see you. When I remember my death and your death, I realise that when you are admitted to heaven, your position will be high among the rest of the prophets. Should I be admitted to heaven, I fear that I may not see you.” The Prophet did not answer him until this verse was revealed: “All who obey God and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviate from the truth, and the martyrs and the righteous ones. How goodly a company are these!” (Verse 69)
 
Rabī`ah ibn Ka`b al-Aslamī reports: “I used to stay some nights at the Prophet’s home. One night I brought him water for his ablution and purification. He said to me, ‘Tell me your request.’ I said, ‘Messenger of God, I seek to be your companion in heaven.’ He said, ‘Say something else.’ I said, ‘That is my request.’ He said, `Then help me to triumph over yourself by frequent prayer and prostration.” (Related by Muslim.)
 
Al-Bukhārī relates on the authority of several of the Prophet’s Companions that God’s Messenger was asked about a person who loves a certain company, but whose actions leave him unable to catch up with them. He said: “A person is grouped [in the hereafter] with those whom he loves.” Anas reports, “Muslims were never happier than when they heard this ĥadīth.”
 
Those Companions of the Prophet were genuinely concerned about the life to come and with whom they would be there, because they had experienced the Prophet’s company in this life. This is, indeed, a matter of concern to everyone who truly loves God’s Messenger. The last ĥadīth spreads its light over us, providing hope and reassurance.

Overview (Verses 69 - 70)

The Reward of Obedience
 
At the end of this passage, the sūrah once again tries to arouse people’s feelings, raising before them the prospect of the most noble companionship in the life to come: “All who obey God and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviate from the truth, and the martyrs and the righteous ones. How goodly a company are these! Such is God’s bounty, and sufficient it is that God knows all.” (Verses 69-70) It is a prospect to tempt every heart, even with the slightest degree of goodness and the faintest hope of attaining a good position in the life to come, with noble companions, enjoying God’s endless favours. To be in the company of such a group can only come about by God’s grace. No human being, devout as he or she may be, can ever hope to attain such a grade merely by their devotion. They attain it only through God’s abounding grace.
 
It is fitting here that we should reflect on how the Prophet’s Companions yearned for his company in the life to come as well. Some of them could not even contemplate parting with him, when he was still alive among them. When this verse was revealed, their hearts were filled with hope.
 
Al-Ţabarī relates on the authority of Sa`īd ibn Jubayr that a man from the Anşār looked depressed when he came to the Prophet. The Prophet asked him the cause of his sorrow. He said: “It is something that I have been thinking of.” When the Prophet asked him about it, the man said: “We come to see you in the morning and in the evening, look at you and sit with you. Tomorrow, you will be raised to be in the company of other prophets in Heaven,

The Prophet gave him no reply. Then this verse was revealed, stating: “All who obey God and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets...” The Prophet sent someone to the man to give him this happy news.
 
A different version of this report is given by Abū Bakr ibn Mardawaih on `Ā’ishah’s authority: “A man said to the Prophet, ‘Messenger of God, you are dearer to me than myself, my family and my children. I may be at home when I mention you, and I cannot wait to come and see you. When I remember my death and your death, I realise that when you are admitted to heaven, your position will be high among the rest of the prophets. Should I be admitted to heaven, I fear that I may not see you.” The Prophet did not answer him until this verse was revealed: “All who obey God and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom God has bestowed His blessings: the prophets, and those who never deviate from the truth, and the martyrs and the righteous ones. How goodly a company are these!” (Verse 69)
 
Rabī`ah ibn Ka`b al-Aslamī reports: “I used to stay some nights at the Prophet’s home. One night I brought him water for his ablution and purification. He said to me, ‘Tell me your request.’ I said, ‘Messenger of God, I seek to be your companion in heaven.’ He said, ‘Say something else.’ I said, ‘That is my request.’ He said, `Then help me to triumph over yourself by frequent prayer and prostration.” (Related by Muslim.)
 
Al-Bukhārī relates on the authority of several of the Prophet’s Companions that God’s Messenger was asked about a person who loves a certain company, but whose actions leave him unable to catch up with them. He said: “A person is grouped [in the hereafter] with those whom he loves.” Anas reports, “Muslims were never happier than when they heard this ĥadīth.”
 
Those Companions of the Prophet were genuinely concerned about the life to come and with whom they would be there, because they had experienced the Prophet’s company in this life. This is, indeed, a matter of concern to everyone who truly loves God’s Messenger. The last ĥadīth spreads its light over us, providing hope and reassurance.