سورة الزمر

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): It is narrated from Yazid ibn Sallam that he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): "Tell me about the world (dunya) — why is it called dunya?" He said: "The world is base (dani) and lowly, and it has been created lower than the hereafter; for had it been created equal with the hereafter, its inhabitants would not perish, just as the inhabitants of the hereafter do not perish." He said: "Tell me about the Resurrection (Qiyamah), why is it called Qiyamah?" He said: "Because in it the creatures stand up (qiyam) for the reckoning." He said: "Tell me why the hereafter (akhirah) is called akhirah?" He said: "Because it takes place at the end and comes after the world; its years cannot be described, its days cannot be counted, and its dwellers do not die." He said: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! You have spoken the truth."

Ibn Abbas: لِلَّذینَ أَحْسَنُوا [For those who do good] — for those who have done good deeds in this world, فی هذِهِ الدُّنْیا حَسَنَة [there is good in this world] is a reward in this world and a good recompense in the hereafter, which is khulud (eternal and everlasting presence) in Paradise. And the phrase وَ أَرْضُ اللهِ واسِعَةٌ [and Allah's earth is spacious] is an encouragement for them (the Muslims at the dawn of Islam) to emigrate from Mecca.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): When the Day of Resurrection arrives, a group of people will come to the gate of Paradise and knock on it. They will be asked: "Who are you?" They will say: "We are the people of patience." They will be asked: "Upon what did you show patience?" They will say: "We were patient in obeying Allah and patient in keeping away from sins." Then Allah the Mighty and Majestic will say: "They speak the truth; admit them into Paradise." And this is the very word of Allah the Mighty and Majestic who said: إِنَّمَا یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ [Only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): When Abdullah ibn al-Hasan was taken to prison and his family became grief-stricken over this calamity, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) wrote a letter to Abdullah ibn al-Hasan and his family: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is a letter to the righteous survivor and the pure offspring from his brother's son and cousin, Ja'far ibn Muhammad. If you and your family have been afflicted with this hardship, know that this sorrow, grief, depression and distress has not been for you alone; to the same extent that you have been distressed and grieved, I too am in the same measure of anguish, distress and severe calamity [and I am no different from you], except that I take heed of Allah's command to the pious concerning patience and consolation, where He says: إِنَّما یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَیْرِ حِسابٍ [Only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure].

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): In Paradise there is a tree called the tree of balwa (trial and affliction). On the Day of Resurrection, those who suffered trials in this world and endured calamities will be brought forth, while no scale is set up and no court is established to examine their deeds. From Allah's boundless ocean, His mercy and reward is poured down upon them. Then the Prophet recited this verse: إِنَّما یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَیْرِ حِساب [Only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure].

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): On the day when the records of deeds are opened and the scales are set up, no scale will be set up for the people of affliction, nor will any record be opened for them. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) recited this verse: إِنَّمَا یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ [Only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: One day I and five groups of our companions went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) while a severe famine had struck us, such that for four full months we had tasted nothing but water, milk and the leaves of trees. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Until when shall we remain in this famine?' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'You will always be in this famine; give thanks to Allah, for I have read the Qur'an and the heavenly books that were revealed to the prophets before me, and I did not find that anyone other than the people of patience enters Paradise. O Ibn Mas'ud! Allah the Exalted says: إِنَّما یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَیْرِ حِسابٍ [Only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure] ...' I asked: 'O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Who are the patient?' He said: 'Those who are patient in obedience to Allah and restrain themselves from sin. Those who earn what is pure, spend in moderation, and put forward the surplus of their wealth in charity — they are the successful and the victorious. O son of Mas'ud! Humility, gravity and dignity, reflection, tranquillity, justice, learning, taking heed, foresight, Allah-consciousness, generosity, keeping away from sin, love for the sake of Allah, hatred for the sake of Allah, returning trusts, justice in judgement, upholding testimony and bearing witness, assisting the people of truth, going beyond wrongdoing, and forgiving one who has done injustice — these are among their deeds and duties. O son of Mas'ud! Whenever they are afflicted, they are patient; whenever something is given to them, they give thanks; whenever they judge, they act justly; whenever they speak, they speak the truth; whenever they make a covenant, they fulfil it; whenever they do wrong, they seek forgiveness; and whenever they do good, they rejoice.'

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Whoever works for Allah, Allah grants him his reward in this world and the Hereafter, and resolves his difficulty in both. Allah the Exalted has said: یا عِبادِ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّکُمْ لِلَّذِینَ أَحْسَنُوا فِی هذِهِ الدُّنْیا حَسَنَةٌ وَ أَرْضُ اللهِ واسِعَةٌ إِنَّما یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَیْرِ حِسابٍ [Say: O my servants who believe! be careful of your duty to your Lord; for those who do good in this world is good, and Allah's earth is spacious; only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure]; whatever Allah bestows upon them in this world, He does not take account of it and question them regarding it in the Hereafter. And Allah the Exalted has said: 'Those who do good shall have the good reward and more besides.' (Yunus/26) — the meaning of al-husna (the good) is Paradise, and the meaning of al-ziyada (more besides) is the world [and its blessings].