Ас-Саффат 37:44–48

4. After that, it was said: عَلَىٰ سُرُ‌رٍ‌ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ (` ala sururim-mutagabilin: facing each other on couches. - 37:44). This is a portrayal of the state in which the people of Jannah will be sitting - no backs against each other. How would that seating arrangement turn out to be in practice? That only Allah knows best. Some commentators say that the circuit of the seating arrangement would be so extensive that no one will need to sit with one's back towards anyone, and Allah Ta’ ala will bless the people of Jannah with such power of sight, audition and speech that they would be able to comfortably converse with people sitting at varying distances. Then, there are some other commentators who have also said that these couches, thrones or settees will be revolving - readily zooming towards whomsoever one wishes to talk to. And Allah knows best.

5. The word: لَذَّةٍ appearing in verse 46: لَذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِ‌بِينَ (ladhdhati lishsharibin: delicious for those who drink) is essentially a verbal noun which means 'to be tasteful'. Therefore, some commentators have said that, at this place, the adjunct (mudaf) stands elided. Initially, it was: ذات لَذَّةٍ (dhati ladhdhatin: having taste). But, there is no need for this labored approach. First of all, even if 'ladhdhah' is taken to mean nothing but a verbal noun is frequently used in the sense of ismul` fail. In that case, it would mean that it would be 'a taste personified' for those who drink. In addition to that, there is another adjectival form of: لَذَّةٍ : ladhdhatun besides لَذیذُ : ladhidhun - that is, لَذُّ : ladhdhun. It is possible that the word: لَذَّةٍ : ladhdhatun used here may be a feminine form of the same al ladhdhun (Tafsir Qurtubi). In this case, it would mean: 'delicious for those who drink.

6. 'The word: غَوْلٌ (ghaul) in verse 47: لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌ la fiha ghaulun) has been explained variously as 'headache' or 'abdominal pain' or 'smell or corruption' or 'muddling of reason'. The fact is that the word: غَوْلٌ (ghaul) is used to convey all these meanings, while Hafiz Ibn Jarir says that 'ghaul' appears here in the sense of bane, trouble or unwelcome consequences which makes it mean that the drink offered in Jannah will have no such evil consequences as are found in wines consumed in the mortal world - no hangovers of headache, stomach pain, bad breath or loss of reason. (Tafsir Ibn Jarir).

7. In verse 48, it was said: قَاصِرَ‌اتُ الطَّرْ‌فِ (restricting their gazes). This is an attribute of the hurs or houris of Jannah - wide eyes with lowered gaze. It means that except for the mate to whom Allah Ta’ ala gives them in marital bond, they will not raise their eyes to cast a look at any other male. 'Allamah Ibn-ul-Jauzi reports: These women will tell their spouses, 'By the honor of our Lord, I see no one better than you in this Jannah. Praised be Allah who made me your spouse and made you, mine.'

` Allamah Ibn-ul-Jauzi has given yet another sense of 'those with lowered gaze' when he says that they will cause the gaze of their spouses remain lowered. In other words, they will be so beautiful and so faithful that their spouses would simply not have a wish to look at anyone else. (Tafsir Zad-ul-Masir , pages 57, 58, volume 8)