جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآءُونَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 31
Translations
Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allāh reward the righteous -
Transliteration
Jannātu 'Adnin yadkhulūnahā tajrī min taḥtihā al-anhār. Lahum fīhā mā yashā'ūn. Kadhālika yajzī Allāhu al-muttaqīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the reward of the righteous (al-muttaqīn) in Paradise—Gardens of Eternity (Jannāt 'Adn) where they will enter and find rivers flowing beneath them, and everything they desire will be available to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that Allah's reward for those who practice taqwa (God-consciousness) is comprehensive and transcends worldly imagination, as their every wish will be fulfilled, demonstrating the infinite generosity and justice of Allah.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nahl is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period to strengthen the faith of believers facing persecution. This ayah appears within a passage (16:29-31) contrasting the fate of the righteous with the fate of the arrogant, serving to encourage patience and steadfastness among the believers by reminding them of the ultimate divine reward awaiting them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'In Paradise, there are things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived' (Sahih Bukhari 3244, from Quran 32:17). Additionally, the Prophet described Paradise with rivers of water, milk, honey, and wine (Sahih Muslim 2794), directly relating to the flowing rivers mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah provides profound hope and motivation for believers to maintain taqwa in their daily lives, knowing that Allah's reward for the righteous surpasses all earthly comprehension and desire. It teaches that true success lies not in material accumulation in this world, but in developing consciousness of Allah, which secures eternal happiness beyond imagination.