increasing (9) over the light they are accustomed to; by that light they recognize morning and evening, just as the sun appears to the people of this world—yet there is no darkness at all in Paradise.

As for the claim that “the words of Allah fall under enumeration” (1), it is invalid. Only certain portions of His words can be counted, such as the revealed verses. Something that has no end can never be numbered, for whatever is counted must, by definition, be finite. Every total the human tongue can utter or the mind can conceive has a limit, whereas that which is infinite has no measure—neither in thought nor in speech.

The Exalted says:
“abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure” (2),
“except as your Lord wills; indeed, your Lord does whatever He wills” (3).

Ibn Abī Ḥātim said: It was reported from Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān, from al-Jurayrī, who said: I heard Abū Naḍrah say, “The recitation of the Qur’an ends at this verse: ‘Indeed, your Lord does whatever He wills’ (4).”

Harb al-Kirmānī and Abū Bakr al-Bayhaqī have also narrated—from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī, and likewise from Qatādah—regarding His words:
“As for (5) those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire; in it they will have sighing and roaring, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills” (6).

And Allah knows best about the use of the dual form wherever it occurs (7).