of Nekounam, , Session (197)
Verse 25 of Surah Al-Baqarah, with an exquisite description of the heavenly blessings and gardens, opens a gateway towards profound understanding of the eschatological teachings. This verse, like an eternal inscription upon the hearts tablet of the believers, speaks of the enduring blessings of Paradise and the abode of the righteous. This interpretation, adopting a scientific and systematic approach, analyses this verse employing refined analogies to provide a coherent framework for recognising the gardens and critiques unauthentic approaches. The objective is to present a text that serves as a guide for specialised audiences, especially in the fields of Quranic studies and theology.
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
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that for them are Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, This is what we were provided with before. And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
The Holy Quran and the traditions of the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them) constitute the primary and most reliable sources for understanding the gardens and the blessings of Paradise.
Critique of Mystical Claims
Mystical claims regarding reaching the gardens, due to their complexity and the possibility of error, lack credibility unless corroborated by revelatory sources.
Stages of Spiritual Journey towards the Gardens
The spiritual seeker must traverse the realms of Barzakh (intermediate world), Resurrection, and Jahim (Hellfire) in order to comprehend the heavenly blessings, a process requiring years of effort and self-purification.
Analogy of Treasure Hunting
The mystical journey resembles the endeavour of treasure seekers who, through patience and gradual progression, ultimately attain their goal.
Intuitive Comprehension of the Gardens
Insight into the eschatological realms, including the gardens, is only achievable through thorough self-purification and spiritual discipline, and is not an easy matter.
Signs of Genuine Attainment
One who claims to have witnessed the gardens must have experienced tangible signs such as seeing their own grave and shroud in this world.
Heavenly Blessings
The gardens of the righteous, described with flowing rivers, fruits that are similar yet distinct, and purified spouses, represent a moderate Paradise which also has higher degrees.
Sensory Differences Between This World and the Hereafter
The senses in the hereafter, unlike those in this world, function with greater intensity and subtlety, perceiving the blessings in a more exalted manner.
Contamination of Interpretations with Irrelevant Sciences
Many commentaries have deviated from Quranic purity by blending irrelevant philosophical, theological, and literary content.
Criticism of Non-Pragmatic Teachings
Excessive emphasis on literature and formal sciences has obstructed profound comprehension of the Quranic message and neglected the needs of the audience.
Weakness of Religious Education
Deficiencies in the religious educational system, particularly when confronted with academic environments, have created challenges for seminary students.
Call for Innovation
Repetition of past content in religious sciences obstructs progress and innovative, creative approaches must be adopted.
The Infinite Capacity of the Quran
The Holy Quran is a divine reservoir encompassing all sciences and must be studied scientifically and through project-based approaches.
Project-Based Study
Scientific and project-oriented study of the Quran is a solution to restore it from neglect and respond to contemporary requirements.
Diversity of Gardens
The Holy Quran speaks of various types of gardens, including the gardens of the righteous, described with rivers and diverse blessings.
Practical Messages
The description of the gardens invites human beings to faith and righteous deeds in order to attain eternal blessings.
Verse 25 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by depicting the heavenly blessings and gardens of the righteous, provides a clear portrayal of the reward of the believers and the position of the hereafter. This verse, emphasising the authority of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, critiques unauthentic mystical claims and underscores the necessity of precise spiritual discipline and self-purification to attain eschatological knowledge. The diversity of the gardens, the difference in sensory faculties between this world and the hereafter, and the critique of educational systems form the central themes of this interpretation. The Holy Quran, as a divine reservoir, contains all sciences and its scientific and project-oriented study is a path to respond to contemporary needs. This interpretation, by presenting a refined scientific framework, stresses the return to Quranic purity and innovation in religious sciences so that humanity may be guided towards faith, righteous deeds, and profound comprehension of eschatological teachings.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
