خالِدينَ فيها ۖ وَعدَ اللَّهِ حَقًّا ۚ وَهُوَ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ

To remain in them [forever] – a true promise of Allah, and He is the all-mighty, the all-wise.

EXPOSITION

God now describes the gardens of bliss with the quality of eternity and perpetuity.^[1] This describes the future state of the faithful and the righteous, which is that they will enter paradise to live therein forever.^[2] This is a true promise of Allah which He has promised them. There is no going back on it,^[3] and He is the all-mighty, meaning that He has power over everything and He is capable of carrying out what He has promised,^[4] and capable of avenging.^[5] His might is not overcome^[6] such that He may be prevented from carrying out His promises and threats.^[7] And He is also the all-wise in all His deeds and commands since He does not do anything save what wisdom demands or that which contains goodness, benefit, and advantage (maṣlaḥah),^[8] including penalising the disobedient and rewarding the virtuous,^[9] where such penalty and reward are not arbitrary but in a manner that is wise and just. He is also the all-wise in His planning which none can deny save one who is ignorant or arrogant.^[10] 4:122 contains many similarities with verses 8-9.

The next two verses emphasise God’s might and wisdom by describing Him as the creator of the heavens, the mountains, the animals, and the one sending forth rain. Such a description augments the sense of His might and wisdom and confirms His ability to make promises of paradise and punishment.^[11]

[1] Munyah, 21/127.
[2] Kashif, 6/156.   
[3] Tibyan, 8/272; Tabrisi, 8/491; Munyah, 21/127.
[4] Munyah, 21/127.
[5] Tabrisi, 8/491.
[6] Safi, 4/140; Kashif, 6/157.   
[7] Safi, 4/140.
[8] Tibyan, 8/272; Tabrisi, 8/491; Safi, 4/140.
[9] Munyah, 21/127.
[10] Kashif, 6/157.   
[11] Mizan, 16/211.