of Nokounam (May His Sacred Spirit Be Sanctified) Session 196
Verse twenty-five of Surah Al-Baqarah, through a description of the heavenly blessings and the attributes of the deserving believers, presents an exalted portrayal of Paradise and its position within the Divine order. This verse, employing remarkable and symbolic language, speaks of verdant gardens, flowing rivers, similar provisions, and pure spouses, and it heralds the eternity of the believers in this sublime realm. The present discourse, with a scientific and refined approach, integrates the content of the primary lecture with supplementary analyses in a systematic and academic format, elucidating the precise characteristics of Paradise and Divine blessings. The objective is to provide a coherent and enlightening text for researchers in religious sciences and expert audiences that, while faithful to the original text, is enriched with literary and scholarly subtlety.
The description of Paradise, owing to its transcendental and supra-rational nature, requires exceptional subtlety and precision. The human intellect, although capable of deducing the necessity of the hereafter as a realm for the actualisation of Divine justice, is incapable of fully comprehending the details of this realm. Intellect merely understands that in the material world, the rights of servants are not fully fulfilled, and the efforts and endeavours of human beings do not reach complete fruition. Therefore, a world without action (a world of outcome) must exist so that Divine justice may be realised therein.
Rational argumentation demonstrates that the material world, due to its limitations, cannot realise complete justice for the servants. This deficiency necessitates the existence of another realm in which the rights and efforts of human beings are fully recompensed. This perspective aligns with numerous Quranic verses, such as verse 4 of Surah Yunus ("إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا"), emphasising the return of all towards God and the establishment of justice in the hereafter.
Verse 25 of Surah Al-Baqarah describes Paradise as gardens beneath which rivers flow. This imagery not only indicates the greenery and freshness of Paradise but symbolises life, vitality, and Divine mercy. The flowing rivers are signs of abundance and permanence of Divine blessings.
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۚ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ ۙ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Give glad tidings to those who believe and perform righteous deeds that for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they say, "This is what we were given before." And they are given it in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
The phrase "كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقًا قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا" refers to similar provisions. This similarity does not imply uniformity or repetition but indicates diversity and resemblance in the high quality of the blessings. Believers in Paradise find each provision similar to the previous ones they received, yet this similarity is accompanied by freshness and delight.
The phrase "وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ" refers to the pure spouses and the immortality of the believers in Paradise. The purity of the spouses indicates not only physical cleanliness but also spiritual and ethical purity. Eternity signifies the permanence and perpetuity of the heavenly blessings, free from any deficiency or decay.
This verse emphasises the consumption of raw fruits and plants in Paradise. Unlike the material world, where cooking and meat consumption are prevalent, in Paradise, the blessings are presented in their raw and natural forms, such as fruits and vegetation. This feature accords with simplicity and closeness to the human innate nature.
Verse 25 of Surah Al-Baqarah does not directly mention clothing, but other verses, such as verse 12 of Surah Al-Insan ("وَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا"), imply that attire in Paradise is part of the believers essence. This attire embodies their good deeds and is not merely an external garment to be worn or removed.
In Surah Al-Waqiah, verses 15-20 describe adorned thrones and the reciprocal seating of the inhabitants of Paradise: "عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَوْضُونَةٍ مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ". This imagery reflects social vitality and security in Paradise, where believers recline facing one another and enjoy the blessings.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَوْضُونَةٍ مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ
Upon adorned couches, reclining on them, facing one another.
Verse 17 of Surah Al-Waqiah ("يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ") and verse 19 of Surah Al-Insan ("وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَنْثُورًا") refer to perpetual youth servants who circulate among the inhabitants like scattered pearls. This description indicates the beauty and delicacy of heavenly blessings that transcend material imagination.
Adornments such as golden bracelets, pearls, and silk garments (as referenced in verse 12 of Surah Al-Insan and verse 71 of Surah Az-Zukhruf: "يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِصِحَافٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ") are not necessities but serve to beautify and manifest the deeds of the believers. These ornaments symbolize spiritual perfections and are embodiments of their virtuous conduct.
Verse 21 of Surah Al-Insan ("وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا") refers to pure wine, a purified drink possessing spiritual and cleansing dimensions. This wine has the capacity for transformation both in this world and the hereafter and can be a subject for scientific and spiritual studies.
وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا
And their Lord will give them a pure drink to drink.
Verse 51 of Surah Ad-Dukhan ("إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ") refers to the fundamental security of Paradise. This security entails the absence of futility, sin, and any form of insecurity such as death or fear. Paradise is a completely peaceful and secure environment for the believers.
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ
Indeed, the righteous are in a secure place.
Multiple verses, such as verse 23 of Surah Al-Hajj ("إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ"), indicate that Paradise is accessible to a vast number of believers. This abundance, contrary to the misconception of Paradises limitation, signifies Divine vast mercy. Conversely, Hell, described with the phrase "هَلْ مِنْ مَزِيدٍ" in verse 30 of Surah Qaf, depicts thirst and deprivation.
Paradise encompasses all levels of existence, from the material (such as rivers and fruits) to the immaterial (such as the meeting with God). This diversity renders Paradise an infinite and all-encompassing realm that transcends material or solely spiritual conceptions.
This perspective aligns with Islamic mysticism and ontology, which consider the hereafter to encompass all degrees of existence. The diversity of levels reflects the grandeur and comprehensiveness of Divine creation, presenting Paradise as a supreme destination that encompasses all dimensions of being.
For describing Paradise, reliance must be placed on the Quranic verses and authentic narrations from the Infallibles (peace be upon them). Narrations should be cautiously examined due to potential issues in their chains or content, but the Quranic verses, as the primary source, are free from any defect or distortion.
Descriptions of Paradise should be based on revelation and avoid unsubstantiated conjectures. This approach guarantees the accuracy and authenticity of the interpretation and prevents possible deviations.
