25:15

قُلۡ أَذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٌ أَمۡ جَنَّةُ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ ٱلَّتِي وُعِدَ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَۚ كَانَتۡ لَهُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَمَصِيرٗا

Qul athalika khayrun am jannatu alkhuldi allatee wuAAida almuttaqoona kanat lahum jazaan wamaseeran

Say, "Is that better or the Garden of Eternity which is promised to the righteous? It will be for them a reward and destination.

Word by word
  1. قُلۡSay
  2. أَذَٰلِكَIs that
  3. خَيۡرٌbetter
  4. أَمۡor
  5. جَنَّةُGarden
  6. ٱلۡخُلۡدِ(of) Eternity
  7. ٱلَّتِيwhich
  8. وُعِدَis promised
  9. ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَۚ(to) the righteous
  10. كَانَتۡIt will be
  11. لَهُمۡfor them
  12. جَزَآءٗa reward
  13. وَمَصِيرٗاand destination
Al-Furqan · 25:15Makkah

Is that better, or the Garden that lasts forever?

A simple question placed after the warning


The two endings
that placenarrow, bound, regret
or
the eternal Gardenpromised to the mindful
What it is
a hopemaybe, someday
a reward and a homefor their obedience

Right after the scene of the Fire, Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ to ask: is that better, or the Garden of Eternity? Ibn Kathir says it is prepared as a reward and final destination for those with taqwa, in return for their obedience. He compares it to a similar question in Surah As-Saffat.

Payday comes. You can spend it all on this weekend or set some aside for something that lasts. You already know which is wiser, you just need someone to ask the question out loud. This verse asks it.

The reward is far away and vague; today is real.

When I put both endings side by side, the choice becomes obvious.

Try this

Before one decision today, ask yourself plainly: which of these lasts?

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Say: "Is that better or the Paradise of Eternity which is promised to those who have Taqwa" It will be theirs as a reward and final destination (15)For them there will be therein all that they desire, and they will abide (therein forever). It is upon your Lord a Wa'dan Mas'ula (16)

Is the Fire Better, or Paradise?

Here Allah says: 'O Muhammad, this that We have described to you about the state of those who are doomed, who will be dragged on their faces to Hell, which will receive them with a scowling face, with hatred and moans. There they will be thrown into their constricted spaces, tied up to their shoulders, unable to move or call for help, and unable to escape their plight – is this better, or the eternal Paradise which Allah has promised to the pious among His servants, which He has prepared for them as a reward and ultimate destiny in return for their obedience to Him in this world'

لَّهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَاءُونَ

(For them there will be therein all that they desire,) of delights such as food, drink, clothing, dwellings, means of transportation and scenery, and other things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor the heart of anyone can comprehend. They will abide therein forever; it will never cease or come to an end, and they will never leave it. This is what Allah has promised to those whom He has blessed and to whom He has shown His favor. He says:

كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ وَعْدًا مَّسْئُولًا

(It is a upon your Lord a Wa'dan Mas'ula) meaning, it must inevitably come to pass. Abu Ja'far bin Jarir reported from some of the scholars of the Arabic language that the words

وَعْدًا مَّسْئُولًا

(Wa'dan Mas'ula) mean: a binding pledge. In this Surah Allah mentions Hell, then refers to the situation of the people of Paradise. This is similar to the passage in Surat As-Saffat where Allah mentions the status of the people of Paradise, with its beauty and joy, then He says:

أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ - إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ - إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ - طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ - فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ - ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ - ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى الْجَحِيمِ - إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ - فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ

:(Is that better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum Truly, We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers. Verily, it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, The shoots of its fruit stalks are like the heads of Shayatin. Truly, they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on the top of that they will be given boiling water to drink so that it becomes a mixture. Then thereafter, verily, their return is to the flaming fire of Hell. Verily, they found their fathers on the wrong path. So they hastened in their footsteps!)(37:62-70)