Al-Qur'an Surah Az-Zumar Verse 20

Mufti Taqi Usmani

But, for those who fear their Lord, there are chambers with chambers built on top of them, with rivers running from underneath them. This is Allah’s promise. Allah does not go back on any promise.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

But those mindful of their Lord will have ˹elevated˺ mansions, built one above the other, under which rivers flow. ˹That is˺ the promise of Allah. ˹And˺ Allah never fails in ˹His˺ promise.

Ruwwad Translation Center

But those who fear their Lord will have lofty mansions, built one above another, under which rivers flow. This is the promise of Allah; Allah never breaks His promise.

A. J. Arberry

But those who fear their Lord -- for them await lofty chambers, above which are built lofty chambers, underneath which rivers flow -- God's promise; God fails not the tryst.

Abdul Haleem

But those who are mindful of their Lord will have lofty dwellings built for them, one above the other, graced with flowing streams. This is a promise from God: God does not break His promise.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

But those whofear their Lord, for them are lofty chambers with lofty chambers above them, built whereunder rivers flow: the promise of Allah, and Allah faileth not the appointment.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But it is for those who fear their Lord. That lofty mansions, one above another, have been built; beneath them flow rivers (of delight); (such is) the Promise of Allah; never doth Allah fail in (His) promise.

Abul Ala Maududi

But those who fear their Lord shall have lofty mansions built over one another beneath which rivers flow. This is Allah's promise and never does Allah fail to fulfil His promise.

Ahmed Ali

But for those who fear displeasing their Lord there are lofty mansions built above mansions, with rivers rippling past below them: A promise of God; (and) God does not go back on His promise.

Ahmed Raza Khan

But for those who fear their Lord, are the high chambers with more high chambers built above them – rivers flowing beneath them; a promise of Allah; Allah does not renege on His promise.

Ali Quli Qarai

But as for those who are wary of their Lord, for them there will be lofty abodes with [other] lofty abodes built above them, with streams running beneath them—a promise of Allah. Allah does not break His promise.

Ali Ünal

But those who keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety, for them are lofty mansions built one above another, beneath which rivers flow. (This is) God’s promise. God never fails to fulfill His promise.

Amatul Rahman Omar

But for those who take their Lord as a shield, there awaits them lofty mansions, storey upon storey with streams running beneath them. (This is) the promise of Allâh; (and) Allâh will never fail in (His) promise.

English Literal

But those who feared and obeyed their Lord, for them (are) chambers from above it chambers built/constructed, the rivers/waterways flow from beneath it, God`s promise, God does not break the appointment (promise).

Faridul Haque

But for those who fear their Lord, are the high chambers with more high chambers built above them – rivers flowing beneath them; a promise of Allah; Allah does not renege on His promise.

Hamid S. Aziz

But those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord, they shall have high places, above them are built higher places, beneath which rivers flow - (this is) the promise of Allah: Allah will not fail in (His) promise.

Hilali & Khan

But those who fear Allah and keep their duty to their Lord (Allah), for them are built lofty rooms; one above another under which rivers flow (i.e. Paradise). (This is) the Promise of Allah: and Allah does not fail in (His) Promise.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

He against whom the sentence of chastisement is due -- canst thou save him who is in the Fire?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

But (as for) those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord, they shall have high places, above them higher places, built (for them), beneath which flow rivers; (this is) the promise of Allah: Allah will not fail in (His) promise.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

But those who keep their duty to their Lord, for them are lofty halls with lofty halls above them, built (for them), beneath which rivers flow. (It is) a promise of Allah. Allah faileth not His promise.

Muhammad Sarwar

Those who have fear of their Lord will have lofty mansions built upon mansions beneath which streams flow. It is the promise of God. God does not disregard His promise.

Qaribullah & Darwish

As for those who fear their Lord, there await high mansions above which are built (more) high mansions, beneath which rivers flow, such is the promise ofAllah; Allah will not fail His promise.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

But those who have Taqwa of their Lord, for them are built lofty rooms, one above another under which rivers flow. (This is) the promise of Allah, and Allah does not fail in (His) promise.

Wahiduddin Khan

But for those who truly feared their Lord, there will be tall mansions, built up storey upon storey, beneath which there will be rivers flowing. This is God's promise: God never fails in His promise.

Talal Itani

But those who fear their Lord will have mansions upon mansions, built high, with streams flowing beneath them. The promise of God; and God never breaks a promise.

Tafsir jalalayn

But as for those who fear their Lord, and therefore obey Him -- for them there will be lofty abodes with [other] lofty abodes built above them, with rivers flowing beneath them, that is, beneath [both] the upper and the lower abodes -- a promise of God (wa`da'Llhi, in the accusative because of an implied verb governing it). God does not fail the tryst, [He does not break] His promise.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

لَكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ


But those who have Taqwa of their Lord, for them,

Allah tells us that His blessed servants will have lofty rooms in Paradise.

مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ

are built lofty rooms, one above another,

i.e., story upon story, solidly-constructed, adorned and high.

Abdullah bin Al-Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

"The Messenger of Allah said;

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَغُرَفًا يُرَى بُطُونُهَا مِنْ ظُهُورِهَا وَظُهُورُهَا مِنْ بُطُونِهَا

In Paradise there are rooms whose inside can be seen from the outside, and the outside can be seen from the inside.

A Bedouin asked, `Who are they for? O Messenger of Allah,'

He said,

لِمَنْ أَطَابَ الْكَلَمَ وَأَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَصَلَّى بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَام

"For those who speak kindly, feed the hungry and stand in prayer at night whilst the people are sleeping."

This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Gharib".

Imam Ahmad recorded from Sahl bin Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said;

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ لَيَتَرَاءَوْنَ فِي الْغُرْفَةِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَمَا تَرَاءَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاء

The people of Paradise will look towards each other in raised places of Paradise as you look towards the stars on the horizons of the sky.

He said, "I told An-Nu`man bin Abi `Ayyash about that, and he said, `I heard Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrate it;

كَمَا تَرَاءَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الَّذِي فِي الاُْفُقِ الشَّرْقِيِّ أَوِ الْغَرْبِي

As you see the stars on the horizon of the east or the west."'

It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Imam Ahmad said, "Fazarah narrated to us; Fulayh narrated to us; from Hilal bin Ali, from Ata' bin Yasar, from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said;

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ لَيَتَرَاءَوْنَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَهْلَ الْغُرَفِ كَمَا تَرَاءَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الدُّرِّيَّ الْغَارِبَ فِي الاُْفُقِ الطَّالِعِ فِي تَفَاضُلِ أَهْلِ الدَّرَجَات

The people of Paradise will look towards each other in the raised places of Paradise as you look at the high, bright stars which remain on the horizon. Such will be the difference in superiority which some of them have over others.

They said, "O Messenger of Allah, are those the abodes of the Prophets?"

He said;

بَلَى وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ وَأَقْوَامٌ امَنُوا بِاللهِ وَصَدَّقُوا الرُّسُل

No, by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, they are the abodes of people who believed in Allah and in the Messengers.

It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said, "Hasan Sahih."

تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الاَْنْهَارُ

under which rivers flow.

means, the rivers flow wherever the people want them to flow.

وَعْدَ اللَّهِ

(This is) the promise of Allah,

means, `all that We have mentioned here is what Allah has promised to His believing servants.'

لَاا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ الْمِيعَادَ




and Allah does not fail in (His) promise.