Allah's statement,
[وَكُنتُمْ
أَزْوَاجاً ثَلَـثَةً ]
(And you (all) will be in three groups.) This means that people will be
divided into three categories on the Day of Resurrection. Some will on the right
of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's right
side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their right hand and
will be taken to the right side. As-Suddi explained that they will comprise the
majority of the residents of Paradise. Another category is those who will be
placed to the left of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth
from `Adam's left side. This category will be given their Books of Records in
their left hands and will be taken to the left side. They are the residents of
the Fire, may Allah save us from their actions. A third category is comprised of
those who are the foremost and nearest before Allah. They are in a better grade
and status and nearer to Allah than those on the right side. They are the chiefs
of those on the right side, because they include the Messengers, Prophets, true
believers and martyrs. They are fewer than those on the right side; so Allah
said,
[فَأَصْحَـبُ
الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـبُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ - وَأَصْحَـبُ الْمَشْـَمَةِ مَآ
أَصْحَـبُ الْمَشْـَمَةِ - وَالسَّـبِقُونَ السَّـبِقُونَ ]
(So those on the right -- how will be those on the right! And those on the
left -- how will be those on the left! And those foremost will be foremost.)
Allah divides people into these three groups upon their death, as indicated by
the end of this Surah. Allah mentioned them in His statement as well,
[ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا
الْكِتَـبَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَـلِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ
وَمِنْهُمْ مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَتِ بِإِذُنِ اللَّهِ]
(Then We gave the Book as inheritance to such of Our servants whom We chose.
Then of them are some who wrong themselves, and of them are some who follow a
middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good
deeds.)(35:32) Muhammad bin Ka`b, Abu Hazrah Ya`qub bin Mujahid said that,
[وَالسَّـبِقُونَ
السَّـبِقُونَ ]
(And those foremost will be foremost.) is about the Prophets, peace be upon
them, while As-Suddi said that they are the residents of the utmost highs (Ahl
Al-`Illiyyin, in Paradise). The meaning of foremost is that they were foremost
in performing the acts of righteousness just as Allah commanded them,
[وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى
مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَـوَتُ وَالاٌّرْضُ]
(And march forth in the way to forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise
as wide as the heavens and the earth.)(3:133) and,
[سَابِقُواْ إِلَى
مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ
وَالاٌّرْضِ]
(Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and
Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth.)(57:21)
Therefore, those who rush to obey Allah in this life and are foremost in
performing acts of righteousness, will be among the foremost believers honored
in the Hereafter. Verily, the reward is according to the kind of deed, and as
one does, so he is judged. So Allah said:
[أُوْلَـئِكَ
الْمُقَرَّبُونَ فِى جَنَّـتِ النَّعِيمِ ]
(These will be the nearest (to Allah). In the Gardens of Delight.)
[ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ
الاٌّوَّلِينَ - وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الاٌّخِرِينَ - عَلَى سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ -
مُّتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَـبِلِينَ - يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَنٌ
مُّخَلَّدُونَ - بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ - لاَّ
يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلاَ يُنزِفُونَ - وَفَـكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ -
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ - وَحُورٌ عِينٌ - كَأَمْثَـلِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ
الْمَكْنُونِ - جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ - لاَ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا
لَغْواً وَلاَ تَأْثِيماً - إِلاَّ قِيلاً سَلَـماً سَلَـماً ]
(13. A multitude of those will be from the first ones.) (14. And a few of
those will be from the later ones.) (15. (They will be) on thrones, Mawdunah.)
(16. Reclining thereon, face to face.) (17. Immortal boys will go around them
(serving),) (18. With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,) (19.
Wherefrom neither Yusadda`un nor Yunzifun.) (20. And with fruit that they may
choose.) (21. And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.) (22. And (there
will be) Hur with wide lovely eyes.) (23. Like preserved pearls.) (24. A reward
for what they used to do.) (25. No Laghw (evil vain talk) will they hear
therein, nor any sinful speech.) (26. But only the saying of: "Salaman!
Salaman!'')