لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاء بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
So that Allah may reward them by the best of what they have done, and enhance them out of His grace, and Allah provides for whomever He wishes without any reckoning.
EXPOSITION
So that Allah may reward them: the eventual outcome of their actions will be the reward of paradise, even if their intention was not solely that.[1]
By the best of what they have done: this sentiment is echoed in many other verses of the Quran, such as 9:121, 29:7, and 39:35. Some have said this means God will cause their good deeds to expiate their evil ones and thus they will be rewarded only for their best actions.[2] Others, that it means they will be rewarded for far more than what they did, from either ten times more (6:160) to 700 times, or even more than that (2:261).[3]
More likely though it is referring to the principle of God rewarding His servants based on the best deed of every type. In other words, they will be rewarded based on their best prayer, their best fast, their best act of charity, etc.,[4] as is implied in, Such are the ones from whom We accept the best of what they do (46:16), Whoever acts righteously, [whether] male or female, should he be faithful, We shall revive him with a good life and pay them their reward by the best of what they used to do (16:97).
Hence there is no contradiction between this verse and the verse: every soul will be recompensed fully for what it has done (16:111).
And enhance them out of His grace: in addition to the reward which is a requital that they have earned through their good actions, there is a greater reward which is given to them from the grace of God. In other words, Those who are virtuous shall receive the best reward and an enhancement (10:26). The truth is that the eternal rewards of paradise are not something that can ever be merited purely as a direct one-to-one equivalent reward for an individual’s actions, but rather they are the result of attachment to the infinite mercy of God: Say: ‘In Allah’s grace and His mercy – let them rejoice in that!’ (10:58). On the other side, the eternal punishment of hell is the natural consequence of an individual removing themselves from the mercy of God.
Similarly, we read in Sūrat al-Qāf, There they will have whatever they wish, and with Us there is yet more (50:35). God promises to give the people of heaven even more than what they desire. They will receive all those kinds of things which they did not even know they wanted, things beyond their imagination. In paradise, people are constantly increased in understanding and they continuously develop, hence their lives do not become repetitive or monotonous.
And Allah provides for whomever He wishes without any reckoning: this is an affirmation to what we have already said about them being rewarded for their best deeds. The provision of God is not something that is simply proportional to one’s actions, but is enhanced and increased to an extent that cannot be measured. This is the mercy and goodly provision of God, of which He gives to whom He wills, He singles out for His mercy whomever He wishes, and Allah is dispenser of a great grace (3:74).[5]
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
Ṭūsī asserts that reward (thawāb) is only given in a measured and accounted way (ḥisāb), whilst that which is given from grace (faḍl) may be given without accounting.[6]
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.[7]
- And with you, Lord, is unfailing love; and, You reward everyone according to what they have done.[8]
- For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.[9]
Note: See also Proverbs 24:12 and Revelation 22:12.
- However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him.[10]
Note: This passage suggests that the blessings of the hereafter surpass the capacity of human imagination and comprehension in this world and are beyond description.
[1] In this case the lām is lām al-ʿāqibah (Munyah, 19/118).
[2] Baghawi, 3/420; Razi, 24/398.
[3] Razi, 24/398; Nemuneh, 14/484.
[4] See Mizan, 15/129-130; Nemuneh, 14/484; Munyah, 19/118.
[5] See Mizan, 15/129-130.
[6] Tibyan, 7/442.
[7] Romans 2:6-7.
[8] Psalms 62:12.
[9] Matthew 16:27.
[10] 1 Corinthians 2:9.