The (Im)possibility of Entering Jannat- Ayah 7:40
They will not enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle!
GENERAL TRANSLATION AYAH 7:40
٤٠ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَلَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ الْخِيَاطِ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُجْرِمِينَ
This Ayah is normally mistranslated as ‘Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them – the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle. And thus, do We recompense the criminals’ whereas there comes to mind a couple of important questions with reference to this translation
1) why would the translators ignore the alphabet ‘Ta’ at the beginning of Tuftah (تُفَتَّحُ), meaning ‘You Fatah’ addressing and talking to you- the addressee of the Quran, which is ignored completely and
2) How is it possible that Allah would not give solution, a route of ‘Touba’ for those who Kazaba Allah’s Ayaat and would instead highlight the impossibility of them to reverse their situation? As per Quranic guidelines, times and again, Allah gives option to people to realize their mistakes and make amends. Why then, this Ayah is an exception, highlighting the impossibility of people to make amends? Perhaps a closer look at the translated phrase “until a camel enters into the eye of a needle” needs to be looked at since this translation is against the divine justice of giving no option of Touba to these people.
WORD BY WORD TRANSLATION OF AYAH 7:40
[Quran 7:40] Indeed, those who Kazabu (كَذَّبُوا) with Ayatena (بِآيَاتِنَا) and Astakbaru (وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا) upon them, not you Taftahu (تُفَتَّحُ) Abwaabu (أَبْوَابُ) the Sama’e (السَّمَاءِ) and not they Yadkhaluna (يَدْخُلُونَ) the Jannat (الْجَنَّةَ) except they Yaleja (يَلِجَ) the Jamalu (الْجَمَلُ) in Samman (سَمِّ) the Khayaat’e (الْخِيَاطِ). And that is Najziy (نَجْزِي) the Mujremeen (الْمُجْرِمِينَ).
This above word-by-word translation actually means
‘Indeed, those who reject, deny, make fun of, ridicule and take as a joke (كَذَّبُوا) with Ayaat of Allah, either from the Kalam of Allah or from the creations of Allah, as were specific to such people (بِآيَاتِنَا) and those who let Akbar- magnified and made to look bigger upon them as well as those who were proud and arrogant (وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا) upon them, not you enlighten and expose them to the benefits of (تُفَتَّحُ) the gates of opportunity of (أَبْوَابُ) the environment, Allah’s message and Hidaya (السَّمَاءِ) and not they enter, be able to gain access to (يَدْخُلُونَ) the Jannat (الْجَنَّةَ) except they become persistent and relentless (يَلِجَ) all together (الْجَمَلُ) in order to fasten, secure and confirm (سَمِّ) not only the tools required but also the whole process of amending, repairing, fixing and correcting the damage done by them to the Ayaat of Allah (الْخِيَاطِ). And that is the perfect recompense (نَجْزِي) of those who are the Mujremeen (الْمُجْرِمِينَ).’
CONTEXT OF AYAH 7:40
The context of the earlier Ayahs discusses the concept of Kazaba Allah’s Ayaat & Astakbaru upon them, whereby Allah has warned us against the acts of such people who deny, reject, make fun of, ridicule or take Allah’s Ayaat as a joke and in non-serious manner those Ayaat of Allah that are specific and relevant to them, to which they are exposed to and to which they commit these acts of Kazaba. Not only that, they also magnify other than Allah’s Message as more important and significant over Allah’s Ayaat, by promoting other than Allah’s Ayaat as more significant and by approaching these Ayaat of Allah with pride and arrogance, while looking down upon the Ayaat and others as least important, significant and/or imperfect. Filled with pride and arrogance, they indulge in boasting and bragging behaviors with heightened self-esteem and self-importance to promote, magnify and show-off such elements, laws, people and aspects that are other than, besides, in opposition of and contradictory to Allah’s Ayaat. Quran warns us that it is people like these who are the companions of the fire and announces destruction of worst possible punishment as their perfect recompense in which they will live forever.
CONCEPT OF AYAH 7:40
Through the Ayah 7:40, Allah is giving a solution, a chance even for those who Kazaba Allah’s Ayaat i.e., reject, deny, make fun of, ridicule, and take as a joke the verses of Allah, either from the Quran or from the creations of Allah. They also refer to those who Astakbaru upon Allah’s Ayaat i.e., promote, magnify in significance and make bigger in value than Allah’s Ayaat, such aspects, people, laws, system of Shirk, i.e., that belongs to their deities other than Allah as well as those who are proud and arrogant upon Allah’s Ayaat. These people will not be able to gain understanding or wisdom, or access the benefits and fortunes that come with understanding Allah’s message and guidance since no one can enlighten them of Allah’s guidance unless and until they aim for it themselves. They will never be able to enter Jannat unless they, in coordination with each other, work to amend, repair, and correct the damage they have done by doing Kazaba of Allah’s Ayaat and Astakbaru upon them. Not only that they have to amend, repair and correct the damage done, but they also have to establish, institute and strengthen the tools required for this to ensure its long-term sustainability. The solution that Allah provides for those who deny, make fun of, ridicule, and take as a joke the verses of Allah, and who are proud and arrogant over them, is that they must realize their mistakes and be open to making amends. Even such people can enter Jannat, if they become relentless, stubborn, unyielding, persevere and persist, working in collaboration and coordination with each other, in order to fix, fasten, secure, arrange and confirm the tools that are needed as well as the whole process of mending, repairing, correcting and fixing the destruction that they have caused to the verses of Allah. This is the solution that Allah provides as the perfect recompense. If this seems like a huge effort, it should be taken as a divine warning that for the Mujremeen, i.e., as opposed to those who Amanu, who have doubts, fears, or reservations, who are uncertain, unsure or unsafe due to their own Kufar, this is the consequences for their actions of denying of Allah’s verses and being arrogant about them.
CONCLUSION
Allah’s system is based on justice at its best with the concept of Is’lah at its roots. Thus, to be able to make amends and correct earlier done mistakes is highlighted times and again as the basic foundation of Touba- to make a U-turn. Exactly opposed to the general understanding of Ayah 7:40, this Ayah is offering a solution for those who mock, deny, ridicule, and take as a joke the Ayaat (verses) of Allah, and who are proud and arrogant over them. It states that even these individuals have the opportunity to make amends and enter Jannat (heaven) if they realize their mistakes and are open to make amends. The solution is for them to persist and persevere in fixing and correcting the destruction they have caused to the Ayaat of Allah. This verse is emphasizing that those who have mocked and denied the Ayaat of Allah must become relentless, stubborn, and unyielding in their efforts to fix and correct the damage they have caused. They must work together in collaboration and coordination to secure and arrange the necessary tools and resources to mend, repair, and correct their actions. This requires persistence and perseverance, as it is not an easy task, but one that is necessary for them to enter Jannat and make amends for their past actions. This is a warning for the Mujremeen (those who commit sins) that the consequences for their actions of denying and disobeying the Ayaat of Allah is severe, and if this seems like a huge effort, it is a reminder of the seriousness of the actions.
