Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Isra Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

See how We made some of them excel some others (in this world) and, of course, the Hereafter is much higher in ranks and much greater in degrees of merit.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

See how We have favoured some over others ˹in this life˺, but the Hereafter is certainly far greater in rank and in favour.

Ruwwad Translation Center

See how We have favored some over others [in this world], but the Hereafter has higher ranks and greater degrees of excellence for some over others.

A. J. Arberry

Behold, how We prefer some of them over others! And surely the world to come is greater in ranks, greater in preferment.

Abdul Haleem

see how We have given some more than others- but the Hereafter holds greater ranks and greater favours.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Behold thou! how We have preferred some of them over some others; and surely: the Hereafter is greater in degrees and greater in preferment.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.

Abul Ala Maududi

See, how We have exalted some above others in this world, and in the Life to Come they will have higher ranks and greater degrees of excellence over others.

Ahmed Ali

"See, how We favour one over the other; and in life to come are higher ranks and favours greater still.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Observe how We have given superiority to some over others; and indeed the Hereafter is the greatest in rank and the highest in excellence.

Ali Quli Qarai

Observe how We have given some of them an advantage over some others; yet the Hereafter is surely greater in respect of ranks and greater in respect of relative merit.

Ali Ünal

See how We have made some of them excel others (in worldly gifts and in virtues); yet the Hereafter will certainly be greater in ranks and greater in excellence.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Behold! how We have exalted some of them over others (in the present life), yet the Hereafter holds out greater degrees of rank and (confers) greater merits and excellence.

English Literal

Look/wonder about how We preferred/favoured some of them over some, and the end (other life) (E) (is) greater steps/stages/degrees, and greater preference/favour.

Faridul Haque

Observe how We have given superiority to some over others; and indeed the Hereafter is the greatest in rank and the highest in excellence.

Hamid S. Aziz

See how We have preferred some of them over others, and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degree and greater in preference.

Hilali & Khan

See how We prefer one above another (in this world) and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preference.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And do We aid -- these as well as those -- out of the bounty of thy Lord, and the bounty of thy Lord is not limited.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

See how We have made some of them to excel others, and certainly the hereafter is much superior in respect of excellence.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

See how We prefer one of them above another, and verily the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.

Muhammad Sarwar

Consider how We have given preference to some people above others, yet the life to come has more honor and respect.

Qaribullah & Darwish

See how We have preferred some above others. Yet the Everlasting Life is greater in rank and greater in preferment.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

See how We prefer one above another (in this world), and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.

Wahiduddin Khan

see how We have exalted some above others [in the present life]. Yet the Hereafter shall be greater in degrees of rank and greater in excellence.

Talal Itani

See how We have favored some of them over others; yet the Hereafter is greater in ranks, and greater in favors.

Tafsir jalalayn

See how We have given preference to some of them over others, in provision and renown. And truly the Hereafter is greater, grander, in degrees and greater in preferment, to this world, and so one ought to devote one's attention to it [the Hereafter], to the exclusion of the other.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ

See how We prefer one above another,

meaning in this world, so that some are rich and some are poor, and others are in between; some are beautiful, some are ugly and others are in between; some die young while others live to a great age, and some die in between.

وَلَلخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلً



and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.

means, the differences between them in the Hereafter will be greater than the differences between them in this world. Some of them will be in varying levels of Hell, in chains and fetters, while others will be in the lofty degrees of Paradise, with its blessings and delights.

The people of Hell will vary in their positions and levels, just as the people of Paradise will.

In Paradise there are one hundred levels, and the distance between one level and another is like the distance between heaven and earth.

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said;

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَى لَيَرَوْنَ أَهْلَ عِلِّيِّينَ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الْغَابِرَ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاء

The people of the highest levels (of Paradise) will see the people of `Illiyin as if they are looking at distant stars on the horizon