Ад-Духан 44:51–55

Reward of the Inmates of Paradise

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي مَقَامٍ أَمِينٍ (Indeed the God-fearing will be in a place free from fear, - 44:51). The current set of verses describes the eternal blessings of Paradise. Almost all sorts of blessings have been referred to in these verses, because the following are generally the human needs:

(1) fine dwelling;

(2) fine clothing;

(3) the best life-partner;

(4) the best food;

(5) the satisfaction that these blessings will remain available; and

(6) assurance of total security from grief and affliction. In these verses all the six kinds of blessings for the inmates of Paradise have been mentioned.

Let us carefully analyze the six verses in this set. The dwelling of the inmates is described as 'amin "free from fear". The best human dwelling, according to verse (51), is the one that is secure from all kinds of dangers.

سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَ‌قٍ... fine silk and thick silk.... - 44:53) Both the words refer to 'silk'. The word sundus refers to "fine silk" and the word istabraq refers to "thick silk".

وَزَوَّجْنَاهُم بِحُورٍ‌ عِينٍ (We will marry them with houris having big dark eyes) - 44:54). The word tazwij originally means 'to make one person partner of another'. Later on it came to be utilised abundantly in the sense of 'marrying'. According to the second sense, the men of Paradise will be married technically to houris having big dark eyes. This is the apparent sense of verse (54). Although the inmates of Paradise will not be legally obligated to observe the precepts of Shari'ah, the purpose of marriage will be to honour them. Therefore, this should not raise any objection. If the word is taken in the first sense, houris having big dark eyes will be given as life partners to the men of Paradise. The houris in this case will be granted to them as a gift. There will be no need for a contract of marriage as is done in this world.