the Lectures of Nekounam, May His Sanctity Be Preserved (Session 194)
Verse twenty-five of Surah Al-Baqarah, commencing with the phrase وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ
and its continuation, constitutes glad tidings directed at those believers who have amalgamated faith with righteous deeds. This verse, following the challenge verses (verses 23 and 24) that emphasised humanitys incapacity in confronting Divine revelation and the eventual fate of disbelievers, delineates the Divine reward for the faithful. The present composition, employing a scientific and exalted approach, rewrites the lecture content while preserving all subtleties and meanings within a systematic framework tailored for erudite audiences. The structure of this exegesis comprises main sections with specialised headings and subheadings, accompanied by comprehensive explanations and semantic links, rendering the text rich and engaging for academic researchers. The verses are presented with full diacritical marks and independent translation to maintain depth and precision of analysis.
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they shall have Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided therein with a fruit as sustenance, they say: "This is what we were provided with before." And they are given its likeness. And therein they shall have purified spouses, and they shall abide therein eternally.
Verse twenty-five, following the challenge verses (إِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ
, Al-Baqarah: 23, translation: If you are in doubt) and the warning of the punishment for disbelievers (النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۚ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ
, Al-Baqarah: 24, translation: A fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers), completes the contrast between the fate of disbelievers and believers. This verse, by bringing glad tidings to the believers, portrays the reward of faith and righteous deeds in the form of an exalted Paradise.
This dichotomy is akin to the two scales of a balance, placing the torment of disbelievers on one side and the blessings of the believers on the other.
In this verse, believers are those who have overcome doubt and hesitation to attain faith. Unlike disbelievers who remain in doubt, the believers, by accepting the truth, are liberated from hesitation and have attained the status of faith and righteous deeds.
This liberation is analogous to escaping the darkness of doubt towards the light of certainty, which guides the believer towards Paradise.
The phrase جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ
refers to gardens beneath which rivers flow. This description depicts a Paradise abundant with life, freshness, and beauty.
The Gardens are like orchards where streams of life-bestowing water bring eternal freshness.
The phrase كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا
indicates the sustenance the inhabitants of Paradise receive, which they recognise as similar to previous provisions but each time bringing a fresh and new delight. This sustenance is expressed in the passive voice (they are provided, they are given), signifying the effortless and unobtrusive bestowal of blessings.
This sustenance is like a fruit that offers a familiar yet novel taste each time without repetition.
The phrase وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ
refers to the presence of pure spouses in Paradise who serve as companions and solace for the inhabitants. This purity encompasses both physical and spiritual cleanliness and emphasises the elimination of loneliness.
These spouses are akin to a breeze in the garden of Paradise, bringing delight and tranquility.
The phrase وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
denotes the eternity of the believers in Paradise, representing the permanence and perpetuity of heavenly blessings.
Eternity is like a root that anchors the tree of Paradise firmly in the soil of perpetuity.
Reason can prove the existence of the Hereafter and Divine justice but is incapable of describing the intricate details of Paradise, such as gardens, rivers, or sustenance. These descriptions are only accessible through revelation and authentic traditions.
Reason is like a lamp that illuminates the path, yet to behold the details of Paradise, the light of revelation is indispensable.
Prophets, saints, and perfected mystics, by transcending the natural realm, are capable of perceiving the intermediate realms, the Resurrection, and bliss. This vision underpins the precise descriptions of Paradise in the Qurn and traditions. The verse لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ ثُمَّ لَتَسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ
(At-Takthur: 5-8, translation: If you had knowledge of certainty, you would certainly see Hell, then you would surely be questioned about the blessings) emphasises the possibility of witnessing the unseen realms.
This vision is like a window through which the Divine saints reveal the grandeur of Paradise to the world.
Simplistic conceptions of Paradise, such as blackboard-like depictions reducing it to a mere material garden with trees and streams, obstruct the comprehension of Paradises exalted grandeur. These notions degrade Paradise to a level beneath its true status.
These depictions are like a childs drawing that diminishes the vastness of an ocean to a small pond.
Comprehension of Paradise necessitates deep reflection and adherence to revelation to avoid trivialisation and materialistic perspectives. Any speculation devoid of Qurnic and traditional foundation results in superstition regarding the unseen.
This understanding is like a journey guided by the map of revelation, arriving at the truth of Paradise.
The verse does not mention the clothing of the inhabitants of Paradise, whereas it explicitly addresses their abode (gardens), food (sustenance), and companionship (pure spouses). This silence may signify the redundancy of clothing in Paradise or its natural provision.
This silence acts as a subtle indication differentiating the system of heavenly needs from the limitations of worldly needs.
The use of the passive voice verbs (they are provided, they are given) in describing the heavenly sustenance indicates that the blessings are bestowed without disturbance or the direct presence of servants. This characteristic emphasises the serenity and perfection of Paradise.
This bestowal is like a breeze that silently and peacefully conveys blessings to the inhabitants of Paradise.
The heavenly glad tidings in this verse act as an impetus to strengthen faith and righteous deeds. The depiction of gardens, sustenance, and pure spouses directs believers towards perfection and constancy in faith.
This glad tidings is like a lantern illuminating the path of faith for the believers.
Paradise, as the final destination of believers, actualises human perfection within an exalted and eternal realm. This perfection is the result of the union of faith and righteous deeds.
Paradise is like a shore that, after a tumultuous journey, grants believers eternal tranquillity.
The exegesis of verse twenty-five of Surah Al-Baqarah, focusing on وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ
and the heavenly descriptions, reveals the grandeur of Divine reward for believers. This verse, by depicting gardens with flowing rivers, similar yet novel sustenance, pure spouses, and eternity, introduces a dynamic and exalted Paradise transcending material conceptions. The limitations of reason in describing the details of Paradise underscore the necessity of reliance on revelation and the traditions of the Divine saints. The critique of simplistic conceptions and emphasis on profound revelation-based understanding prevents trivialisation in the perception of Paradise. The distinction between the needs systems of Paradise and the worldly life, such as the non-necessity of clothing, emphasises Paradises transcendent nature. The glad tidings offered by this verse motivate believers towards strengthening faith and righteous deeds, presenting Paradise as the ultimate destination of human perfection. This exegesis acts as a light illuminating the grandeur of Paradise within the hearts of believers, inviting them to deeper contemplation of the Quranic teachings.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi