Al Islam

2939. The "two gardens" may signify, (1) peace of mind which is the result of leading a good life, and (2) freedom from gnawing cares and anxieties which come in the wake of life spent in the pursuit of material pleasures and comforts. One "garden" consists in giving up one’s desires for the sake of God in this world and the other in being blessed with God’s pleasure in the next. A true believer perpetually basks in the sun of God’s grace in this life which cares cannot disturb. This is Paradise upon earth which is granted to a God- fearing man and in which he constantly dwells; the promised heaven in the next world is only an image of the present Paradise, being an embodiment of the spiritual blessings which such a one enjoys in this life. It is to this paradisiacal state of a true believer that the Qur’an refers in 10:65 and 41:32. The "two gardens" may also be the two fertile valleys watered by two sets of rivers—Jaihan and Saihan; and Furat and Nil, which according to the Hadith are the rivers of Paradise (Muslim). These two valleys fell into the hands of Muslims in the caliphate of ‘Umar. (close)

2940. Just as in the present life true believers undergo various kinds of tribulations for the sake of their Lord and do all sorts of good and righteous deeds, so in the next life those tribulations and good works will assume the form of flowers and fruits of various hues and tastes. (close)

2941. The two fountains flowing freely may be the spiritual embodiments of Huququllah (the obligations owed to God) and Huququl-‘Ibad (the obligations a Muslim owes to his fellow-beings) which the believers fully and faithfully discharge in this life. The discharge of these two obligations would assume the form of two fountains in the Hereafter. As a true believer ceaselessly continues to discharge these obligations, the fountains have been depicted as constantly flowing. (close)

a. 44:56; 52:23; 56:21. (close)

2942. Again the word "pairs" may metaphorically represent two kinds of righteous works of the believers—(1) those they do for their own spiritual advancement and (2) those services which they render to their fellow-beings. (close)

b. 38:52. (close)

2943. Three times the words "two gardens" have been used in this Surah. This is to emphasize that apart from the great blessings and boons of Paradise in the next world, believers will have all the good things of this world also. (close)