The first part of a short compilation from Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen's Tafseer collection, translated by Amatullah: Facing each other on thrones “And We shall remove from their chests any deep feeling of bitterness (that they may have). (So they will be like) brethren facing each other on thrones.” (Qur'an, 15:47) Mutaqabileen (the word used in the verse), means they will be facing one another. This shows the vastness of the area because if it were a small space, people would not be able to sit facing each other. Paradise is as wide as the heavens and the earth – and can any of us imagine the vastness of the sky above us? So how about the size of the seven heavens, one on top of the other?! And who can comprehend this except for Allah Glorified be he?! So from this verse, we learn that the believers will be facing one another because their place in Paradise is very vast. They will have the best manners because it is not proper that one should turn one's back to another. They will all be of good manners having pure hearts; and from this verse, the Prophet (peace be upon him) discouraged turning one's back to another. An honored title “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave the Book, and has not placed therein any crookedness.” (Qur'an, 18:1) Allah calls the Prophet (peace be upon him) ‘Abd, a slave, attributing worship to him because he (peace be upon him) is the best worshiper of Allah. Allah calls the Prophet (peace be upon him) ‘Abd in three instances: * During the revelation of the Qur'an, such as in this verse from Surah Al-Kahf. * When Allah defends him (peace be upon him): “And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to Our slave, then produce a Surah of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful.” (Qur'an, 2:23) * Regarding the Night Journey (Al-Isra), He says: “Glorified (and Exalted) be He Who took His slave for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him of Our proofs. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (Qur'an, 17:1) During the most honorable positions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Allah describes that he is a slave – and how good is this description that a person is a slave to Allah. Seeing with the heart “The (Prophet's) heart lied not in what he saw.” (Qur'an, 53:11) The fu'ad is the heart, and this means that the what the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw with his eyes during the night journey and ascension, he also saw with certainty in his heart. It could be that the eye sees something but the heart does not confirm it, and it could be the that heart sees something that the eye does not confirm. As for what the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw during the night of Mi'raj, it is the truth – in both his sight and in his insight, and that is why Allah says: “The heart lied not in what he saw.” Perfection of his character “The sight turned not aside, nor it transgressed beyond the limit.” (Qur'an, 53:17) This verse refers to the sight of the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the ascension to the heavens, and the scholars say “Zagha” (the word used in the verse) means turning to the left and right. As for “Wa maa Taghaa,” it means he did look past what was in front of him. The Messenger (peace be upon him) had the best of manners in this high standing; he did not turn his eyes to the left or right, and he did not look to what was not permitted for him to look at and this is from the perfection of the character of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Normally, you will find people looking around to their right and to their left when they enter a place that is strange to them, especially if this place is a great change from what they are used, such as in this regard (i.e., ascension to the heavens). A person will not be able to keep himself from looking around to see what is happening but because of the perfection of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) character, manners, his calmness and self-control, he did not turn aside or transgress the limits.
