يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَقَـٰبِلِينَ 53
Translations
Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.
Transliteration
Yalbisūna min sundusi wa-istabraqin mutaqābilīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inhabitants of Paradise wearing garments of fine silk (sundus) and thick brocade (istabraq), sitting face-to-face with one another in companionship. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, sundus refers to thin silk while istabraq denotes thicker, more luxurious silk fabric, both of which were among the finest materials known to the Arabs. The phrase 'mutaqābilīn' (facing one another) emphasizes the joy of social communion in Paradise, where the righteous will enjoy both material comfort and meaningful relationships without any discord or separation.
Revelation Context
Surah Ad-Dukhan is a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam to provide comfort to the Muslim community facing persecution. This ayah appears in the section (44:51-57) describing the rewards of Paradise for the believers, serving as encouragement for the oppressed Muslims to remain steadfast in their faith despite the hardships of their time.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The least reward for the people of Paradise is eighty thousand servants and seventy-two wives, and each of them will have a tent of pearls, agates, and rubies' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet mentioned the silken garments of Paradise in describing its luxuries (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the rewards of Paradise encompass not only material luxuries but also meaningful social relationships and the pleasure of righteous companionship. For modern believers, it emphasizes that true happiness comes from both comfort and community, motivating us to seek righteousness while nurturing genuine relationships with others in this life.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِى جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allāh has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allāh is greater. It is that which is the great attainment.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ
On thrones woven [with ornament],
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[Being told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."