Interpretation of Sura Hud - Verses 21-23

21. " These are they who have lost their own selves, and that which they used to invent has failed them. "

22. " Assuredly, they will be the greatest losers in the Hereafter. "

Commentary

In Islamic culture, the world is compared to a marketplace where people are salesmen and the purchasing group consists of Allah, the Satan, one's passionate self, etc., the number of which is numerous. The merchandise is the soul, property and performance. This merchandise is on offer at an expensive or cheap price. Hence the words/ 'ajr/(recompense),/ awab/(reward),/ d i'f/ and/ 'id 'af/, are used frequently in the Qur'an to mean recompense; while the terms/ xusr/(loss)and/ xusranun mubin/(manifest loss)and/ axsarin/(the most losers)are used about damage. The important warning is that we know that every loss can be compensated except the passage of one's lifetime which cannot be redeemed. The holy verse says:

" These are they who have lost their own selves, and that which they used to invent has failed them. "

Sometimes, wealth and property, position and power or one's social status are lost. At other times, man himself and his humanity are lost which is the greatest of all losses.

Therefore, worldly losses can be compensated but losses incurred in the Hereafter cannot be replaced. The verse says:

" Assuredly, they will be the greatest losers in the Hereafter. "

23. " Verily those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord, they will be Companions of the Garden,(paradise), they will abide therein for ever. "

Commentary

The Qur'anic word/ axbatou/, is derived from/ xabt/ which means both submission and humility as well as comfort and confidence.

Reward and encourage have also been mentioned along with warnings and threats.

Following the aforementioned verses which explained the fate of those who are involved in giving false accusations, this verse exposes the profile of those involved in righteous deeds. It implies that those who believe and perform righteous acts and behave well, who submit themselves before Allah and are confident of His promises, will be among the Companions of Paradise, remaining there forever. The verse says:

" Verily those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord, they will be Companions of the Garden,(paradise), they will abide therein for ever. "

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah Hud" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"