كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌ مَّكْنُونٌ 49
Translations
As if they were [delicate] eggs, well-protected.
Transliteration
Ka-annahunna baydun makhnun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the wives of the inhabitants of Paradise as being like well-preserved eggs, emphasizing their purity, beauty, and protected nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'baydun makhnun' (protected eggs) refers to eggs hidden and preserved within shells, symbolizing the chastity, concealment, and flawless beauty of the houris (hur al-'ayn) of Paradise. The comparison highlights both their physical beauty and their moral purity, as eggs are unblemished and carefully guarded.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat's description of the rewards of Paradise for the righteous believers. The surah was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam when the Prophet ﷺ was emphasizing the realities of the Hereafter to encourage believers to remain steadfast. This verse is part of the broader Quranic theme of describing Paradise's blessings to motivate righteous conduct.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The first meal of the people of Paradise will be an extra lobe of the fish liver' (Tirmidhi). More thematically, 'In Paradise there are things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has imagined' (Sahih Bukhari 3244), which encompasses descriptions like this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the rewards of Paradise are beyond ordinary human experience and include blessings both physical and spiritual, encouraging us to strive for righteousness in this life by keeping the ultimate reward in perspective.