فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا 36
Translations
And made them virgins,
Transliteration
Faja'alnāhunna abkāran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inhabitants of Paradise, specifically referring to the wives or maidens therein, as being restored to virginity and perpetual youth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'abkāran' (virgins/maidens) as emphasizing their purity, beauty, and eternal youthfulness—a state continuously renewed without the effects of aging or childbearing. This is part of the description of the blessings of Paradise designed to illustrate the incomparable rewards awaiting the righteous.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Waqi'ah, a Meccan chapter that describes the Day of Judgment and the states of people in the afterlife. The broader context of verses 35-40 outlines the specific rewards of the inhabitants of Paradise, depicting the luxuries and pleasures prepared for them. This description serves as motivation for believers to strive for righteousness.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4879: The Prophet (ﷺ) described Paradise with various gardens and rivers. Tirmidhi 2687: Narrations describe the eternal youth and beauty of the dwellers of Paradise, reinforcing the concept of perpetual renewal mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the rewards of Paradise transcend earthly limitations and temporal decay, encouraging steadfast faith and righteous deeds as the path to eternal, incorruptible blessings. It illustrates that God's promises to the faithful exceed human imagination and material understanding.