Surah Al-Insaan (76) — Ayah 21

(Ayah 21) ➊ {عٰلِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُنْدُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَّ اِسْتَبْرَقٌ …: ’’ سُنْدُسٍ ‘‘} fine silk. {’’ اِسْتَبْرَقٌ ‘‘} thick silk. {’’ حُلُّوْۤا ‘‘ ’’حِلْيَةٌ‘‘} is on the pattern of {’’فُعِّلُوْا‘‘ }, originally it was {’’حُلِّيُوْا‘‘}, they will be adorned with ornaments. {’’ اَسَاوِرَ ‘‘ ’’سِوَارٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ شَرَابًا ‘‘}, bangles. {’’ طَهُوْرًا ‘‘} drink, something to drink, which is pure and purifying, as He said: « وَ اَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً طَهُوْرًا » [ الفرقان : ۴۸ ] “And We sent down from the sky water that is purifying.”
➋ {’’ عٰلِيَهُمْ ‘‘} (upon them) can have two meanings: one is that the seats on which they will be sitting will have curtains of fine green silk and thick silk hanging over them. When the curtains are so precious, then what about their garments? The second is that they will be wearing garments of fine green silk and thick silk, as mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf: « وَ یَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّنْ سُنْدُسٍ وَّ اِسْتَبْرَقٍ» [الکہف: ۳۱] “And they will wear green garments of fine and thick silk.” This meaning is more correct, because it is supported by the verse in Surah Al-Kahf. In the recitation of Anas bin Malik, Mujahid, and Qatadah, it is {’’عَلَيْهِمْ‘‘}. [ دیکھیے زاد المسیر لابن الجوزي ] This recitation also supports the second meaning, although the first meaning is not incorrect.
➌ In Surah Al-Kahf it is said: « يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيْهَا مِنْ اَسَاوِرَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ » [ الکھف : ۳۱ ] “Therein they will be adorned with bracelets of gold.” Whereas here the mention is of bracelets of silver being adorned, so how is this reconciled? The answer is that there are several gardens in Paradise, as in Surah Ar-Rahman there is mention of two separate gardens, and as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ جَنَّتَانِ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ آنِيَتُهُمَا وَ مَا فِيْهِمَا، وَ جَنَّتَانِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ آنِيَتُهُمَا وَ مَا فِيْهِمَا ] [ بخاري، التوحید، باب قول اللّٰہ تعالٰی: «وجوہ یومئذ ناظرۃ…» : ۷۴۴۴ ] “Two gardens whose vessels and whatever is in them are of silver, and two gardens whose vessels and whatever is in them are of gold.” Now it is up to the dweller of Paradise whether he wears bracelets of gold or silver, or both, and some scholars have said that perhaps the bracelets of gold are for the Muqarrabun (those brought near) and the bracelets of silver are for the companions of the right hand, according to their ranks in Paradise. (At-Tasheel) But this cannot be said with certainty, so the first view is more correct.
➍ Here a question arises that generally bangles and such ornaments are worn by women, so what is the purpose of adorning men in Paradise with bangles? The answer is that the silk garments and gold and silver bangles are meant to describe the royal grandeur and splendor of the people of Paradise. Since ancient times, kings have worn gold and silver bangles, as Pharaoh taunted Musa (peace be upon him): « فَلَوْ لَاۤ اُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِ اَسْوِرَةٌ مِّنْ ذَهَبٍ» [ الزخرف : ۵۳ ] “Why have gold bracelets not been bestowed upon him?”
➎ {وَ سَقٰىهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُوْرًا:} In this part of the verse, there are several glad tidings for the people of Paradise: one is that their Lord Himself will serve them the pure drink. What greater honor can there be than this? Second, that drink will be free from all the apparent and hidden impurities and defects of all intoxicating drinks of the world; there will be no intoxication, no headache, no nausea, no vomiting, no body aches, no loss of intellect—it will be pure delight and pleasure. Third, the word {’’ طَهُوْرًا ‘‘} indicates that by drinking it, the hearts of the people of Paradise will be purified, and all envy, malice, and all grudges will be removed from them.