فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا 36
Translations
And made them virgins,
Transliteration
Faja'alnāhunna abkāran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inhabitants of Paradise, specifically referring to the wives or maidens therein, as being restored to virginity and perpetual youth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'abkāran' (virgins/maidens) as emphasizing their purity, beauty, and eternal youthfulness—a state continuously renewed without the effects of aging or childbearing. This is part of the description of the blessings of Paradise designed to illustrate the incomparable rewards awaiting the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Waqi'ah, a Meccan chapter that describes the Day of Judgment and the states of people in the afterlife. The broader context of verses 35-40 outlines the specific rewards of the inhabitants of Paradise, depicting the luxuries and pleasures prepared for them. This description serves as motivation for believers to strive for righteousness.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4879: The Prophet (ﷺ) described Paradise with various gardens and rivers. Tirmidhi 2687: Narrations describe the eternal youth and beauty of the dwellers of Paradise, reinforcing the concept of perpetual renewal mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the rewards of Paradise transcend earthly limitations and temporal decay, encouraging steadfast faith and righteous deeds as the path to eternal, incorruptible blessings. It illustrates that God's promises to the faithful exceed human imagination and material understanding.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ ٱلْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَـٰمًا
Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace,
يَلْبَسُونَ مِن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَقَـٰبِلِينَ
Wearing [garments of] fine silk and brocade, facing each other.
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
O you who have believed, repent to Allāh with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allāh will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent."