Since the wording of this address was general, though the polytheists were intended, Allah excluded the believers, saying: ⦗703⦘
(40–49) “Except Allah’s chosen servants. For them is a known provision: fruits, and they will be honored in Gardens of Bliss, upon couches facing one another. A cup from a flowing spring will be passed around among them—white and delightful to those who drink. It causes neither harm nor intoxication. With them will be women who restrain their gaze, with beautiful wide eyes, as though they were well-protected eggs.”
Allah says: “Except Allah’s chosen servants.” They will not taste the painful punishment, because they devoted their deeds sincerely to Allah, so He chose them, singled them out for His mercy, and bestowed His gracious care upon them.
“For them is a known provision,” meaning one that is not unknown. Rather, it is a magnificent and sublime provision whose greatness cannot be mistaken and whose full reality cannot be fathomed.
He explains it by saying: “Fruits”—every kind of fruit in which the soul delights because of the pleasure found in its color and taste. “And they will be honored”: they will not be humiliated or despised, but revered, exalted, and treated with esteem. They will honor one another, and the noble angels will honor them, entering upon them through every gate and congratulating them on attaining the most blissful reward. The Most Generous of all will honor them and lavish upon them every form of honor, including bliss for their hearts, souls, and bodies.
“In Gardens of Bliss,” meaning gardens defined by bliss and characterized by delight. This is because they contain things no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived. They are also free of everything that could diminish their bliss, including every disturbance and vexation.
Part of the honor they receive from their Lord, and of the honor they show one another, is that they will be upon “couches.” These are elevated seats adorned with every kind of splendid, beautifully ornamented covering. They will recline upon them in comfort, tranquility, and joy.
“Facing one another”: their hearts will be pure toward each other, and there will be mutual love between them. They will enjoy one another’s company. Their faces being turned toward one another indicates that their hearts are likewise turned toward one another and that they treat each other courteously: none turns his back on another or seats him merely at his side. Rather, this arrangement reflects the perfection of their joy and courtesy.
“A cup from a flowing spring will be passed around among them,” meaning that youthful attendants, ready to serve them, will move among them with delicious beverages in beautiful goblets brimming with pure nectar sealed with musk. These are goblets of wine.
That wine differs from the wine of this world in every respect. In color, it is “white,” the finest of colors; in taste, it is “delightful to those who drink,” giving pleasure both while it is being drunk and afterward. It neither assails the mind, causes reason to vanish, nor leaves it drained; nor does it drain the wealth of the one who drinks it. It causes neither headache nor distress.
After mentioning their food, drink, and gatherings—while bliss in both its general and detailed forms is encompassed by the words “Gardens of Bliss”—He described these particular things so that they might be known and souls might yearn for them. He then mentioned their spouses, saying: “With them will be women who restrain their gaze, with beautiful wide eyes.” That is, with those who dwell in the Abode of Bliss, in their nearby quarters, will be beautiful women of Paradise, perfect in every quality, who restrain their gaze. This may mean that, out of chastity, each confines her gaze to her husband and does not look beyond him. Because of her husband’s beauty and perfection, she seeks no one else in Paradise and desires only him. Or it may mean that she holds her husband’s gaze exclusively upon herself. This indicates her perfection and surpassing beauty, which cause her husband to confine his gaze to her. Restricting the gaze also indicates that desire and love are confined to her. Both meanings are possible, and both are sound. And [all] of this indicates the beauty of the men and women in Paradise and their love for one another—a love in which none longs for anyone else—as well as their complete chastity. There will be no envy, mutual hatred, or rancor there, because all their causes will be absent.
“With beautiful wide eyes,” meaning that their eyes will be lovely and beautiful, with charming pupils.
“As though they”—the women of Paradise—“were well-protected eggs,” meaning concealed and guarded. This describes their beauty and purity and how their complexions will be the finest and most radiant of colors, entirely free of dullness or blemish.