وَجَنَّـٰتٍ أَلْفَافًا 16
Translations
And gardens of entwined growth.
Transliteration
wa jannatin alfafa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to gardens that are dense, thick, and luxuriant in their vegetation—'alfaf' (ألفاف) meaning layered, overlapping, or interconnected gardens. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this describes the abundant and verdant nature of the gardens of Paradise, where vegetation grows densely in multiple layers, symbolizing the richness and perfection of divine reward. The repetition of gardens throughout Surah An-Naba emphasizes the supreme blessing of Paradise for the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Naba, which primarily addresses the disbelievers' denial of the Resurrection and the Day of Judgment. The surah contrasts the blessings bestowed upon humanity in this life with the infinitely greater rewards awaiting believers in the Hereafter, using vivid imagery of Paradise to motivate belief and righteous action.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'In Paradise there are things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever imagined' (Sahih Bukhari 3244). This hadith complements the Quranic descriptions of Paradise's gardens, emphasizing their incomparable beauty beyond human comprehension.
Themes
Key Lesson
The vivid description of Paradise's lush gardens reminds believers that God has prepared incomparable rewards for those who believe and act righteously, serving as motivation to maintain piety and patience through worldly trials. This imagery encourages contemplation of the eternal blessings awaiting the faithful beyond this temporary life.