Surah Qaf 50:31
سُورَةُ قٓ · Meccan · Verse 31 of 45
وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ
Translation
But Paradise will be brought close to the righteous and will no longer be distant:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens a scene of profound honor and welcome for those who lived with mindfulness of Allah. "And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far."
The Honored Guests
The audience for this beautiful promise is clearly identified as *al-Muttaqin*, the righteous ones. These are individuals who, in their worldly lives, consistently strove to be conscious of Allah, to obey His commands, and to avoid His prohibitions. The divine address here is one of great consolation and a firm guarantee of reward, contrasting with earlier verses about the destination of the disbelievers.
The Word for Closeness
The pivotal word is *uzlifat* (أُزْلِفَتِ), which literally means "it was made near" or "brought close." This phrasing, in the passive voice, highlights Allah's direct and active role in this event. It's not that the righteous must embark on a difficult journey to Paradise; rather, Paradise itself is moved to meet them.
Scholars have explored the depth of this "bringing near." Al-Razi offers several insights: it could mean Allah literally "folds" the vast distances, bringing Paradise close to the believers as an act of immense honor, suggesting that they are so esteemed that Paradise comes to them. Ibn Ashur favors this interpretation, seeing it as a special grace that spares them any burden of journey. Alternatively, it could signify the closeness in *attainment*, meaning the long-promised reward, once seemingly distant in anticipation, is now immediate and accessible.
"Not Far"
The phrase *ghayra ba'id* (غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ), meaning "not far," serves to reinforce and clarify this proximity. It's not merely a relative closeness, but a definitive, undeniable nearness. Ibn Ashur explains this phrase as clarifying that Paradise is "not far *from them*," emphasizing their direct and immediate access. It leaves no room for doubt about the ease and immediacy of their entry. Both al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi note the linguistic precision of using the masculine *ba'id* (far) with the feminine *Jannah* (Paradise), which can describe the state of being not distant, adding another layer of exactness to this divine description.
This imagery provides immense reassurance: for those who have lived a life of devotion, their ultimate home will be brought right to them, a gesture of ultimate welcome from their Lord.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Qaf 50:31 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Qaf 50:31 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.