of this life: “A parable of the Garden which is promised to those who keep their duty: Therein flow rivers. Its fruits are perpetual and its plenty” (13:35); “A parable of the Garden which the dutiful are promised: Therein are rivers of water not altering for the worse …” (47:15). And quite in keeping with this description is the statement made elsewhere, that the blessings of Paradise cannot be conceived of in this life, not being things of this world: “No soul knows what refreshment of the eyes is hidden for them: a reward for what they did” (32:17). An explanation of these words was given by the Holy Prophet himself when he said: “Allāh says I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and what the mind of man has not conceived” (Bu. 59:8).
And Ibn ‘Abbās, the famous companion and commentator, is reported to have said: “In Paradise there are no foods of this life except the names”.14
A few examples may be added. Ẓill which means a shadow, is spoken of as one of the blessings of Paradise: “They and their wives are in shades” (36:56); “The dutiful are amid shades and fountains” (77:41); “Its fruits are perpetual and its ẓill” (13:35). Ẓill15 actually does not in all these cases bear the significance of shade; the name is there but its import is quite different. In fact we are plainly told in the Holy Qur’ān that there is no sun in Paradise: “They will see therein neither sun nor intense cold” (76:13). Hence in the case of Paradise, ẓill signifies protection or plenty, as being the idea underlying the word shade (R.).
Those in Paradise are spoken of as being given sustenance (rizq). But it cannot mean what sustains the body here. It is the sustenance that is needed for the inner self of man, and it is for this reason that prayer is also called sustenance.16 The fruits of Paradise, whether mentioned under a particular name or generally, are not the fruits of this life, but of deeds done. The name is the same, but the significance is quite different. Thus we are told: “Whenever they are given a portion of the fruit thereof, they will say: This is what was given to us before” (2:25). Evidently the fruits of good deeds are meant here, and not the fruits that the earth grows, because the latter are not given to all the true believers here while the former are. Similar is the
14 RM. 1, p. 172.
15 The same word has also been used in connection with the rigours of Hell. “And the shade of black smoke, neither cool nor honourable” (56:43, 44). “Walk on to the shade having three branches” (77:30). Rāghib adds that ẓill is every covering whether good or bad; and hence ẓill is also spoken of as one of the severities of Hell.
16 20:131.