Tafsir for verse: 17:21
ٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ فَضَّلۡنَا بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖۚ وَلَلۡأٓخِرَةُ أَكۡبَرُ دَرَجَٰتٖ وَأَكۡبَرُ تَفۡضِيلٗا ٢١ ﴿21
21See how We made some of them excel some others (in this world) and, of course, the Hereafter is much higher in ranks and much greater in degrees of merit.
AI-Assisted Translation: This translation was produced by AI agents carefully trained over several months and thoroughly reviewed. It does NOT replace the scholarship of traditional scholars and is intended as a step in the right direction to make classical tafsir more accessible. There may still be inaccuracies—please report them promptly so we can improve the translation quality.

Commentary

Look with consideration at how We made them different in favor. And in the Hereafter, the difference is greater, for it is a reward and compensations and favors, all of which are different. It is narrated that a group of nobles and those below them gathered at the door of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. The permission was given for Bilal and Suhayb to enter, which troubled Abu Sufyan. So Suhayl ibn Amr said: 'We were only brought down because of ourselves. They called and we were called, meaning to Islam. They hastened and we delayed. This is the door of Umar. So how is the difference in the Hereafter? And if you envy them at the door of Umar, then what Allah has prepared for them in Paradise is greater.' And it was recited: 'and more favored.' And from some of them: 'O you who boast of your elevation in the gatherings of this world, do you not desire to boast of your elevation in the gatherings of the Hereafter, which are greater and better?'

Explore Other Scholars on This Verse

Compare different scholarly perspectives on Surah Al-Isra verse 21

Al-ZamakhshariAbū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd ibn ʿUmar al-Zamakhsharī
Learn more about Al-Zamakhshari
1219 / 2978