لَهُم ما يَشاءونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِم ۚ ذٰلِكَ جَزاءُ المُحسِنينَ
They will have whatever they wish with their Lord. That is the reward of the virtuous.
EXEGESIS
Muḥsinīn: good-doers, the virtuous. A muḥsin is literally one who makes something good. Given the previous verse that describes this group as the God-wary (muttaqūn, a Quranic term that includes both belief and action) it can be said that muḥsinīn are those who set both their beliefs and actions right.
The verse refers to God as their Lord (rabb), which itself implies that they will receive a special attention and care from God, because rabb is one who nurtures, fosters, and makes something grow.
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
Some exegetes have raised the question that if the people of paradise are granted a blank cheque of They will have whatever they wish, then they may desire to behold God (with physical eyes), be raised to the level of the prophets and saints, or possess the heavenly wives of the other inhabitants of paradise. Each of these exegetes has then suggested an answer to this issue.
The problem with such questions is that these wishes and desires are not applicable to the inhabitants of paradise. They are according to the mentality and inclinations of one who is living in this world of conflict, with a very limited level of understanding, and bound by moral vices such as greed and jealousy. However, the hereafter is the realm of eternity, which is very hard for us – if possible at all – to conceive. In fact, any contention or rancour belongs to hell and its inhabitants (38:64). As with the people of paradise: We will remove whatever rancour there is in their breasts; [intimate like] brothers, [they will be reclining] on couches, facing one another (15:47; see also 7:43).
Another important point is that one cannot wish for something that he is not aware of. It does not even cross the mind of an illiterate peasant to own an original manuscript of Shaykh al-Ṭūsī’s book in jurisprudence, while this might be a lifelong desire of a researcher. This can clarify how there will be levels and boundaries in paradise whilst everyone is fully satisfied. They are completely satisfied and satiated to their capacities, but the capacities vary. This also alerts us to build our capacity for receiving and absorbing higher levels of pleasures and bounties while we are in this world, because: ‘Today is the time to act, not reckoning; while tomorrow is the time for reckoning, but no action.’
[1] Alusi, 12/259.
[2] Razi, 26/453; Furqan, 25/337.
[3] Jawādī Āmulī, tafsīr lectures (audio).
[4] Kafi, 8/51, h. 21; Nahj, sermon 42; Ghurar, h. 2695.