مُتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَـٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَشَرَابٍ 51
Translations
Reclining within them, they will call therein for abundant fruit and drink.
Transliteration
Muttaki'īna fīhā yad'ūna fīhā bi-fākihatin kathīratin wa-sharābin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the inhabitants of Paradise reclining upon couches, calling for abundant fruits and drinks within Paradise. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this depicts the ease, comfort, and complete fulfillment of desires in Jannah, where the blessed will enjoy every conceivable blessing without hardship or deprivation. The mention of fruits and drinks emphasizes the sensory pleasures that await the righteous, presented as rewards for their obedience in the worldly life.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Sad, a Meccan chapter that frequently contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the disbelievers. In this particular passage (38:48-54), the Quran describes the gardens of Paradise and its inhabitants, providing comfort to the believers facing persecution in Mecca by assuring them of eternal rewards awaiting them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the people of Paradise: 'They will not urinate, nor defecate, nor spit, nor have any nasal secretion. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will be musk' (Sahih Muslim 2363). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet described Paradise's fruits saying, 'In Paradise there are trees from which fruits come out, and they will never finish' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2527).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the temporary trials and hardships of this worldly life pale in comparison to the eternal, abundant rewards prepared for those who remain steadfast in faith. It encourages Muslims to maintain perspective on their true purpose—earning the pleasure of Allah and the blessings of Paradise—rather than becoming attached to fleeting worldly pleasures.