مَّثَلُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَآ أَنْهَـٰرٌ مِّن مَّآءٍ غَيْرِ ءَاسِنٍ وَأَنْهَـٰرٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُۥ وَأَنْهَـٰرٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ وَأَنْهَـٰرٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ كَمَنْ هُوَ خَـٰلِدٌ فِى ٱلنَّارِ وَسُقُوا۟ مَآءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَآءَهُمْ 15
Translations
Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord... [Are its inhabitants] like those who abide eternally in the Fire and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines?
Transliteration
Mathalu al-jannati allatī wu'ida al-muttaqūn, fīhā anhārun min mā'in ghayri āsin wa anhārun min labanin lam yattaghayyar ta'muhu wa anhārun min khamrin lidhdhatin lil-shāribīn wa anhārun min 'asalin musfan, wa lahum fīhā min kulli ath-thamarāt wa maghfiratun min rabbihim, kamman huwa khālidun fi an-nār wa suqū mā'an hamīman faqatta'a am'ā'ahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a vivid description of Paradise as promised to the God-conscious, depicting four rivers flowing with water, milk, wine, and honey—each with specific qualities of purity and excellence. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret these rivers as metaphors for spiritual and physical blessings, with the water representing purity, milk representing sustenance, wine representing joy free from intoxication, and honey representing sweetness. The ayah concludes with a stark contrast to Hell, where the inhabitants drink boiling water that cuts through their intestines, emphasizing the vast difference between the ultimate destinations of the righteous and the wicked.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad is a Medinan surah revealed to encourage the Muslims during their struggles in Medina. This ayah appears in a section addressing the characteristics of believers and the rewards awaiting them, serving as motivation for steadfastness in faith and righteousness during times of trial and adversity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'In Paradise, there are rivers of water that does not become stale, rivers of milk whose taste does not change, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey purified' (Sahih Muslim 2794). Additionally, the Prophet described the heat of Hell's punishment: 'The fire of this world is one-seventieth of the fire of Hell' (Sahih Bukhari 3265), contrasting the pleasures of Paradise with the torment of the Hellfire.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah encourages believers to recognize that righteousness brings ultimate, incomparable rewards that transcend worldly pleasures, while reminding them of the gravity of abandoning faith. For modern readers, it serves as a powerful incentive to cultivate Taqwa (God-consciousness) and resist temptations, knowing that the temporary difficulties of righteous living pale in comparison to eternal bliss or punishment.