“It neither nourishes nor avails against hunger. (7) Faces on that Day will be blissful, (8) well pleased with their striving, (9) in a lofty Garden, (10) where they will hear no idle speech. (11) In it will be a flowing spring; (12) in it, raised couches, (13) cups set at hand, (14) cushions arranged in rows, (15) and carpets spread about. (16) Do they not look at the camels—how they were created? (17)”

The exegetes said: When this verse was revealed, the polytheists said, “Our camels grow fat on thornbush.” But they lied in this, for camels graze upon it only while it is fresh, when it is called shibriq; once it has dried, nothing eats it. So Allah revealed: “It neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.”

He then described the people of Paradise, saying: “Faces on that Day will be blissful.” Muqatil said: “They will be in bliss and honor.”

“Pleased with their striving”—that is, with their striving in this world—“in the Hereafter,” when they are granted Paradise in return for their deeds. “In a lofty Garden, where they will hear no idle speech”: that is, no vain or false speech. The reciters of Mecca and Basra read it as la yusma‘u (“no idle speech will be heard”), with the initial ya’ pronounced with u, and laghiyah in the nominative. Nafi‘ read la tusma‘u, with the initial ta’ pronounced with u, and laghiyah in the nominative. The others read it with the ta’ pronounced with a, laghiyatan in the accusative (1), as an address to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

“In it will be a flowing spring; in it, raised couches.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Their panels are of gold, studded with chrysolite, pearls, and rubies. They remain raised until their occupants arrive; when one wishes to sit upon one of them, it lowers itself for him until he sits upon it, then rises back to its place.”

“And cups set at hand”: that is, set before them. It is the plural of kub, a vessel without a handle. ⦗191/A⦘

“And cushions”: that is, pillows and bolsters, “arranged in rows,” one beside another. Its singular is numruqah, with the nun pronounced with u.

“And carpets”: meaning broad rugs. Ibn ‘Abbas said: “They are thick-piled carpets; its singular is zarbiyyah.” “Spread about”: that is, laid out; and it is also said: scattered throughout the gatherings.

“Do they not look at the camels—how they were created?” The exegetes said: When Allah Most High described in this surah what is in Paradise, the disbelievers found it astonishing and denied it. So Allah Most High reminded them of His handiwork, saying: “Do they not look at the camels”—among all other animals (2)—“how they were created?” For camels formed part of the Arabs’ livelihood (3);