Assalamu Alaikum Dear Sheikh, My name is Hamza and I'm a Canadien living in Montreal. I will really appreciate if you can answer in a clear way my simple question. In the Quran, Allah says that the righteous people will be reunited in jannah with the prophets, the sidiqueen, the martyrs and the Pious people. He also said that family members who make it to jannah will be reunited together. So according to these two verses, there will be people that will go join the people of the higher ranks. But on the other hand, Allah says that the muqqarabun and the people of the right hand will have different levels, he also said that for all there will be levels according to what they did. Also he speaks about competing with one another for jannah. Now the people who are joining the people of the high ranks, will they get exactly the same as them ? Or will they be at their level but different status ? I'm speaking about both, the family members joining each other And the righteous joining the other pious people. I'm trying to understand how those different verses can fit together. Jazakallahu khair

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The matter is different in regard to the being together that is mentioned in verse 69 of Surah al-Nisa [Quran 4] in which Allah Says (what means): {And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.} [Quran 4:69]; it does not require that they are equal to them in the same status/degree.

Al-Qurtubi said in his Tafseer about the interpretation of this verse: "What is meant is that they will be with them in one abode of bliss, enjoying seeing them and being present with them; not that they will be equal with them in degree, for they will vary in degree, and everyone in it will be granted contentment with his lot and would not feel that anyone is favored over him.” [End of quote]

As regards verse 21 from Surah At-Toor [Quran 52], in which Allah Says (what means): {And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.} [Quran 52:21], it means that Allah will gather the members of the same family in the same status in Paradise, so that each one of them will be comforted by the other, as a Favor and Grace from Allah.

You may refer to the interpretation of Ibn Katheer of this verse in Fatwa 360298.

Also , for more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 47719.

Allah knows best.