Al-Wāqiʿah 56:25

Exposition

Paradise is no place for vain talk, let alone sinful speech such as lies (78:35, 88:11, 19:62). It is also possible that taʾthīm is not just sinful speech, but any sinful act.¹ Further, there should be some agreement and similarity between such a peaceful place and its inhabitants. It then follows that paradise is a place for those who have purified themselves from sinful speech and abandoned vain talk: Those who avoid vain talk (23:3); when they come upon vain talk, pass by nobly (25:72); And when they hear vain talk, they avoid it and say: ‘Our deeds belong to us, and your deeds belong to you. Peace be to you. We do not court the ignorant’ (28:55). What is meant by vain talk is unnecessary fruitless speech which does not add anything to the person except wasting one’s time.