Some of them are allies of one another, in contrast to His saying about the hypocrites, 'Some of them are from one another.' Allah will surely have mercy on them. The letter 's' indicates the existence of mercy without a doubt. It confirms the promise, just as it confirms the warning in your saying: 'I will take revenge on you one day,' meaning that you will not escape me even if that is delayed. Similarly, 'The Most Merciful will surely grant them affection,' and 'Surely, your Lord will give you so that you will be pleased,' 'He will surely give them their rewards.' He is Mighty, dominant over all things, capable of it. He is capable of reward and punishment, Wise, placing everything in its rightful place according to its worth, and 'pleasant abodes' refers to palaces made of pearls, red rubies, and emeralds. 'Adn' is knowledge, as indicated by His saying, 'Gardens of Adn which the Most Merciful has promised.' It is supported by what Abu Darda' may Allah be pleased with him narrated from the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: 'Adn is the abode of Allah that no eye has seen and no heart has imagined. No one resides in it except three: the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs. Allah, the Exalted, says: 'Blessed is the one who enters you.' This was narrated by Al-Bazzar through the route of Ziyadah ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ka'b Al-Qurazi from Fudala ibn Ubaid from him, and he said: 'We do not know it except from this route, and Ziyadah is not known. Other than Al-Layth narrated from him, and it was narrated by Al-Tabarani and Al-Daraqutni in Al-Mu'talif and Ibn Mardawayh from this route.' It is said to be a city in Paradise. It is said that the river of its gardens runs along its banks. 'And the pleasure of Allah is greater.' Something from the pleasure of Allah is greater than all of that, because His pleasure is the cause of all success and happiness. They attain through His pleasure for them His honor and dignity, and dignity is the greatest type of reward. When a servant knows that his Lord is pleased with him, it is greater in his eyes than all the blessings beyond it. He only finds joy in His pleasure, just as when he knows of His displeasure, it disturbs him and he finds no pleasure in it, no matter how great it is. I heard some of the high-minded and strong-willed among our scholars say: 'My eyes do not aspire, nor does my soul contend for anything from what Allah has promised in the abode of honor, as they aspire and contend for His pleasure with me, and that I be gathered in the company of the rightly guided who are pleased with Him.' This indicates what Allah has promised, or to the pleasure: it is the great success alone without what people consider success. It was narrated that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says to the people of Paradise: 'Are you pleased?' They say: 'And what reason do we have not to be pleased, since You have given us what You have not given anyone among Your creation?' He says: 'I will give you something better than that.' They say: 'And what is better than that?' He says: 'I will grant you My pleasure, and I will never be displeased with you again.' This is agreed upon in the narration from Abu Sa'id.