with patterned weaving, nothing unpatterned would have been attributed to it. Rather, the patterned carpets of wondrous workmanship were attributed to it, as we have mentioned, just as anything described in superlative terms was attributed to it. Ibn ‘Abbās said: “‘Abqarī means carpets and rugs.” Al-Kalbī said: “They are richly adorned rugs.” Qatādah said: “They are the finest carpets.” Mujāhid said: “Thick brocade.”
‘Abqarī is a plural form, its singular being ‘abqariyyah, and it is qualified by a plural adjective. Consider how Allah, glorified and exalted be He, describes the couches as raised, the carpets as spread out, and the cushions as arranged in rows. The raised couches indicate their thickness and softness.
The spreading out of the carpets indicates their abundance and their presence everywhere: they are not confined to the place of honour at the front of the gathering, to the exclusion of the rear. The description of the cushions indicates that they are always ready to be reclined upon, not stored away and arranged only at certain times.
Paradise has several names reflecting its attributes, but they all denote one and the same reality. In this respect they are synonymous; with regard to the attributes they express, however, they differ. The same applies to the names of the Lord, glorified and exalted be He; the names of the Lord, glorified and exalted be He; the names of His Book; the names of His messengers; the names of the Last Day; and the names of the Fire.
The first name is al-Jannah (Paradise). This is the general name encompassing that abode and all the bliss, pleasure, delight, joy, and profound contentment it contains.
The word derives from concealment and covering. From the same root comes janīn (a fetus), because it is concealed in the womb; al-jānn (the jinn), because they are concealed from sight; mijann (a shield), because it covers and protects the face; and majnūn (an insane person), because his reason is concealed and hidden from him. Another related word is jānn, meaning a small, slender snake.
The poet’s words also illustrate this:
Slender yet full-figured, upright and perfectly formed—
Were anyone concealed for beauty, she would be concealed.
That is, if anyone were covered and concealed from sight, she would have been. Hence a garden is called a jannah.