reclining upon them, facing one another (16). Ever-youthful servants will go round them (17) with goblets, pitchers and a cup drawn from a flowing spring (18) ⦗Al-Wāqiʿah: 15-18⦘; together with any fruit they choose (20), and the meat of birds they crave (21); and maidens with wide, lovely eyes (22), like hidden pearls (23) ⦗Al-Wāqiʿah: 20-23⦘—women of noble character and radiant faces. Allah has combined for them beauty within and without; they are a comfort to the soul and a delight to the eye.
• The perfection of their bliss is that Allah will pour upon them His good pleasure, never again to be displeased with them. It will be proclaimed: “You shall remain forever youthful and never grow old; ever healthy and never fall ill; ever happy and never know distress; alive forever and never die.” (1) Thus they will have whatever they wish and whatever their hopes can reach, and beyond that, what no hope ever imagined. Above all lies a higher joy: gazing upon His Noble Face, listening to His words, exulting in His favor and nearness, rejoicing in His love, remembering and praising Him, extolling and thanking Him. Their eyes behold the abundance of bounties, the overflowing favors and gifts, the ever-increasing and uninterrupted pleasures; their knowledge of Him and intimacy with Him only grow. Blessed is Allah, Lord of majesty and generosity.

• As for the unbelieving criminals, Allah will reckon with them for the crimes they committed, rebuke them and disgrace them before all creation. Their records will be handed to them from behind their backs in their left hands; their faces will turn black, their scales will be light, and they will be herded to Hell hungry, thirsty, alarmed and terrified, in companies—each group gathered with those like it among the wicked.
  • “Until, when they reach it, its gates are flung open” ⦗Al-Zumar: 71⦘ before their very faces. Its horrific heat will strike them unawares, and the greatest terror, unlike any other, will descend upon them. The keepers of Hell will meet them, castigating them for what they sent ahead, and will say: “Did messengers not come to you from among yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you…”