(9–10) “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds—their Lord will guide them by virtue of their faith. Rivers will flow beneath them in Gardens of Bliss. Their prayer therein will be, ‘Glory be to You, O Allah!’ Their greeting therein will be, ‘Peace!’ And the conclusion of their prayer will be, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.’”

Allah Most High says, “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds,” meaning that they combine faith with fulfilling its necessary implications and requirements by performing righteous deeds—both the deeds of the heart and those of the limbs—with sincerity and in accordance with the Prophet’s guidance.

“Their Lord will guide them by virtue of their faith,” meaning that, because of the faith they possess, Allah will grant them the greatest reward: guidance. He teaches them what benefits them, graciously enables them to perform the deeds that arise from guidance, and guides them to reflect upon His signs. In this world He guides them to ⦗359⦘ the straight path and keeps them upon it; and in the abode of recompense, He guides them to the path leading to the Gardens of Bliss.

Thus He says, “Rivers will flow beneath them”—flowing perpetually—“in Gardens of Bliss.” Allah ascribes the Gardens to bliss because they contain perfect bliss: the bliss of the heart through joy, happiness, delight, and gladness; beholding the Most Merciful and hearing His words; rejoicing in His pleasure and nearness; meeting loved ones and brethren and delighting in their company; and hearing enchanting voices and stirring melodies while beholding joyous sights. There will also be bodily bliss through every variety of food, drink, conjugal pleasure, and the like—things of which no soul has knowledge, which have never occurred to anyone’s mind, and which no describer could ever adequately portray.

“Their prayer therein will be, ‘Glory be to You, O Allah!’” This means that their worship of Allah therein will begin by glorifying Him and declaring Him free of all imperfections, and will conclude by praising Him. Religious obligations will no longer apply to them in the abode of recompense. All that will remain for them is the most perfect of delights—more pleasurable to them than the most delicious foods—namely, the remembrance of Allah, through which hearts find tranquility and souls rejoice. It will be as natural to them as breathing, without burden or hardship.

As for “their greeting” to one another when they meet and visit, it will be peace—that is, speech free of idle talk and sin, characterized by “peace.” It has also been said regarding the interpretation of “Their prayer therein will be, ‘Glory be to You,’” through the end of the verse, that whenever the people of Paradise desire food, drink, or anything similar, they will say, “Glory be to You, O Allah!” and it will immediately be brought to them.

When they have finished, they will say, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.”