To read through the two verses 39:71 and 39:73, it would appear that they indicate an identical imagery, other than that one is referring to those destined for the Hellfire and the other referring to those destined for Paradise. And to compare the Arabic text would corroborate this similarity. Except for one minor addition: the letter وَ that is mentioned in verse 73. This و is called waw-al-Haal and indicates that the second verb occurs ‘WHILE’ the first verb is occurring. In other words, the gates of Paradise were opened WHILE they people were being driven towards it. How does knowing this affect the imagery? It creates a scene of the gates being already wide open, with all the delights and beauties of Paradise enticingly on display for people to see from a distance, creating an eagerness and excitement within them to arrive at their destination to fully revel in the reward that awaits. The gates of Hell, on the other hand, will be closed when the disbelievers are brought to them. They cannot prepare themselves in advance for their fate because they do not know what awaits them. Once there, the gates will be flung open and all the horrors of the Hellfire will be sprung upon them immediately, the surprise element only adding to the fear and torment. (May Allaah protect us from this – Ameen). All of this imagery, conveyed by the single letter و.

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