Islam Guidance

Verse40

Section 5
Disbelievers shall not Enter Paradise
No soul is charged with any responsibility but to the limits of its ability - The fate of disbelievers and the reward the believers will receive.

(40) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِ‏آياتِنا وَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْها لا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوابُ السَّماءِ وَ لا يَدْخُلُونَ

الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِياطِ وَ كَذلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُجْرِمِينَ

40. " Verily those who belie Our Signs and, turn away from them with arrogance, the gates of the heaven shall not be opened to them, nor shall they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle and thus do We recompense the guilty.

Commentary :
It can be understood from this verse that the purpose of the Arabic term / sama' / (sky), mentioned in this verse, is the place where Heaven is located in. So, in order to enter Heaven, the people of Heaven must pass through its gates.
The verse says:
" Verily those who belie Our Signs and, turn away from them with arrogance, the gates of the heaven shall not be opened to them, nor shall they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of the needle and thus do We recompense the guilty.
The Arabic term /jamal/ means 'camel' or 'the thick rope by which ships are kept fastened beside the shore'. This meaning is more fitting than the meaning of 'needle and camel'. But, since the purpose is the statement of impossibility of the arrival of the disbelievers into Paradise, the meaning of 'camel' and passing a camel through the eye of a needle is nearer to the concept of impossibility.
Besides, the Bible, Luke, Chapter 18, No 25 says : " For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
Thus, despite Allah's gates of the grace of the sky and the earth are open to the virtuous believers, the gates of heaven are shut for the hostile beliers, the infidels.
"... the gates of the heaven shall not be opened to them, ..."
Explanations :
1. It is probable that this meaning is understood from the apparent context of the verse that Paradise is in heavens.(1)
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) has said : "The gates of the heaven are open at five times : when the struggle of strivers of Islam begins; when it is raining; when the Qur'an is being recited; at dawn; and at the time of calling to prayer." (2)
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(1) Tafsir-i-Fakhr-i-Razi, and Al-Mizan
(2) Tafsir-Nuruth-Thaqalayn

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