“reclining upon green cushions and splendid, richly–embroidered carpets.” (Sūrah al-Raḥmān, 76)
The word ʿabaqarī refers to the finest, most exquisite carpets—superlative in quality and beauty. These are the carpets of Paradise, not of this world; yet the Qur’an addresses the Arabs with terms familiar to them. In reality, Paradise contains what is far lovelier, more radiant, and grander than anything souls can imagine—surpassing every kind and variety of delight, every category of pleasing sight and sensation.
The term namāriq is the plural of numruqa (with the nūn pronounced ḍamma, though kasra is also reported) and denotes cushions—some say bolsters, and the word can embrace both.
zarábī are carpets.
rafraf: some hold it to be the meadows of Paradise and the vegetation and blossoms along the riverbanks; others say it is a type of cloth.
ʿabaqarī signifies superior carpets, though other explanations exist; Allah knows best.
[The Description of the ḥūr al-ʿayn, the daughters of Adam, their honor and excellence over them, and the number allotted to each believer]
Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“Reclining on couches whose linings are of brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens hangs low (54); so which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny? (55)
Within them are maidens who restrain their gaze, whom no human has ever touched before them, nor any jinn (56); so which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny? (57).” (Sūrah al-Raḥmān, 54-57)
And He, Exalted be He, says:
“In them are women who are good and beautiful (70); so which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny? (71)
ḥūr secluded in pavilions (72); so which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny? (73)
whom no human has ever touched before them, nor any jinn (74); so which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny? (75).” (Sūrah al-Raḥmān, 70-75)
He also says: “Therein they will have purified spouses.” (Sūrah al-Baqarah, 25)
That is, they are free from menstruation, post-natal bleeding, urine, excrement, spittle, or mucus; not the slightest annoyance ever issues from them. Likewise, their manners, their speech, and their hearts are all immaculate.
ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak said: Shūʿbah related to us, from Qatādah, from Abū Naḍrah, from Abū Saʿīd, from the Prophet ﷺ regarding Allah’s words, “Therein they will have purified spouses”:
“[Purified] from menstruation, post-natal bleeding, all impurity, and even spittle.” (1)
Abū al-Aḥwaṣ, commenting on the verse “ḥūr secluded in pavilions,” said: “It has reached us in narration that a cloud rained down from the Throne, and from drops of that mercy they were created. Then a pavilion was pitched for each of them upon the riverbanks. The breadth of each pavilion is forty miles, and it has no door. When the friend of Allah arrives at the pavilion, it splits open, revealing a doorway, so that the friend of Allah may know that no created being—angel or servant—has ever looked upon her; thus they are secluded from the gaze of all creatures.”
Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“and ḥūr with large, lovely eyes (22), like hidden pearls (23)—a reward for what they used to do.” (Sūrah al-Wāqiʿah, 22-24)
And in another verse: “as though they were well-protected eggs.” (Sūrah aṣ-Ṣāffāt, 49)
It is said that this refers to the ostrich egg hidden in the sand, and it is—