Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 35

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Here is the description of the Paradise promised to the God-fearing: underneath it the rivers flow; its food is everlasting and (so is) its shade. This is the ultimate abode of the God-fearing while the ultimate abode of the disbelievers is Fire.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The description of the Paradise promised to the righteous is that under it rivers flow; eternal is its fruit as well as its shade. That is the ˹ultimate˺ outcome for the righteous. But the outcome for the disbelievers is the Fire!

Ruwwad Translation Center

The likeness of Paradise, which is promised to the righteous is that under it rivers flow; its fruit is eternal, so is its shade. Such is the end of those who fear Allah, but the end of the disbelievers is Fire!

A. J. Arberry

The likeness of Paradise, that is promised to the godfearing: beneath it rivers flow, its produce is eternal, and its shade. That is the requital of the god-fearing; and the requital of the unbelievers is -- the Fire!

Abdul Haleem

Here is a picture of the Garden that those mindful of God have been promised: flowing streams and perpetual food and shade. This is the reward that awaits those who are mindful of God; the disbelievers’ reward is the Fire.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

The case of the Garden which hath been promised unto the God-fearing: rivers flow thereunder; fruit thereof is perpetual, and so is thes hade thereof. This is the ending of those who fear; and the ending of the infidels is the Fire.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised!- beneath it flow rivers; perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and the shade therein; such is the end of the Righteous; and the end of Unbelievers in the Fire.

Abul Ala Maududi

And such will be the Paradise promised to the God-fearing: rivers will flow beneath it, its fruits will be eternal, and so will be its blissful shade. That is the ultimate destiny of the God-fearing while Fire is the destiny of the unbelievers.

Ahmed Ali

The likeness of Paradise promised the pious and devout is (of a garden) with streams of rippling water, everlasting fruits and shade. This is the recompense of those who keep away from evil; but the recompense of those who deny the truth is Hell.

Ahmed Raza Khan

A description of the Paradise which is promised to the pious; rivers flow beneath it; its fruits are unending, and its shade; this is the reward of those who fear; and the fate of the disbelievers is fire.

Ali Quli Qarai

A description of the paradise promised to the Godwary: streams run in it, its fruits and shade are everlasting. Such is the requital of those who are Godwary; and the requital of the faithless is the Fire.

Ali Ünal

The Paradise promised to the God-revering, pious ones can be likened to a garden through which rivers flow. Its produce is everlasting, and so its shade. That is the ultimate outcome for those who keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety, just as the ultimate outcome for the unbelievers is the Fire.

Amatul Rahman Omar

The likeness of (the Garden of) Paradise which has been promised to those who become secure against sin and are dutiful is that (of a garden) served with running streams (to keep it green and flourishing). It has ever-lasting fruit and (so will be) its shade. Such is the end of those who guard against sins but the end of disbelievers is the Fire.

English Literal

(The) example/proverb (of) a treed garden/paradise which the fearing and obeying were promised (it), (is) the rivers/waterways flows/passes from below/beneath it , its fruits (are) continuous/lasting, and its shade.168That (is) those who feared and obeyed`s end/turn (result); and the disbelievers end/turn (result) is the fire .

Faridul Haque

A description of the Paradise which is promised to the pious; rivers flow beneath it; its fruits are unending, and its shade; this is the reward of those who fear; and the fate of the disbelievers is fire.

Hamid S. Aziz

A similitude of the Garden which is promised unto those who fear Allah, beneath it rivers flow, its food is enduring, and likewise its shade (shelter, security)! That is the reward of those who fear (keep their duty); but the reward of disbelievers is the Fire!

Hilali & Khan

The description of the Paradise which the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2): have been promised! -Underneath it rivers flow, its provision is eternal and so is its shade, this is the end (final destination) of the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2), and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire. (See Verse 47:15)

Maulana Mohammad Ali

For them is chastisement in this world’s life, and the chastisement of the Hereafter is certainly more grievous. And they have no protector against Allah.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

A likeness of the garden which the righteous are promised; there now beneath it rivers, its food and shades are perpetual; this is the requital of those who guarded (against evil), and the requital of the unbelievers is the fire.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

A similitude of the Garden which is promised unto those who keep their duty (to Allah): Underneath it rivers flow; its food is everlasting, and its shade; this is the reward of those who keep their duty, while the reward of disbelievers is the Fire.

Muhammad Sarwar

The gardens which have been promised to the pious have flowing streams, everlasting fruits, and perpetual shade. Such is the blissful end of the pious, but hell fire is the terrible end for the unbelievers.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The likeness of Paradise which the righteous have been promised beneath it rivers flow, its produce and shade are eternal. Such is the payment of the righteous. But the payment of the unbelievers is the Fire.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

The description of the Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised: Underneath it rivers flow, its provision is eternal and so is its shade; this is the end (final destination) of those who have Taqwa, and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire.

Wahiduddin Khan

Such is the Paradise which the righteous have been promised: it is watered by running streams: eternal is its fruit, and eternal is its shade. That is the recompense of those who are righteous, but the recompense of those who deny the truth is the Fire.

Talal Itani

The likeness of the Garden promised to the righteous: rivers flowing beneath it; its food is perpetual, and so is its shade. Such is the sequel for those who guard against evil, but the sequel of the disbelievers is the Fire.

Tafsir jalalayn

The likeness, the description, of Paradise, which has been promised to the God-fearing (this is a subject, the predicate of which has been omitted), in other words, according to what We recount to you [is as follows]; beneath it rivers flow, its food, what is consumed in it, is everlasting, never perishing, and its shade, is everlasting, never replaced by any sun, because it does not exist therein. That, namely, Paradise, is the reward, the sequel, of those who were wary, of idolatry, and the requital of the disbelievers is the Fire!

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ

The description of the Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised,

meaning its description and qualities;

تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الَانْهَارُ

Underneath it rivers flow,

these rivers flow in the various parts and grades of Paradise and wherever its people wish they flow and gush forth for them.

Allah also said,

مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِى وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ فِيهَأ أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّأءٍ غَيْرِ ءَاسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَـرٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّـرِبِينَ وَأَنْهَـرٌ مِّنْ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّى وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَتِ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ

The description of Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised (is that) in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of clarified honey, therein for them is every kind of fruit, and forgiveness. (47;15)

Allah said next,

أُكُلُهَا دَايِمٌ وِظِلُّهَا

its provision is eternal and so is its shade,

for Paradise has foods, fruits and drinks that never end or finish.

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Abbas narrated in the Hadith about the Eclipse prayer that the Companions said,

"O Allah's Messenger! While you were standing (in prayer), we saw you reach for something with your hand and then you brought it back."

The Messenger said,

إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ أُرِيتُ الْجَنَّةَ فَتَنَاوَلْتُ مِنْهَا عُنْقُودًا وَلَوْ أَخَذْتُهُ لَاَكَلْتُمْ مِنْهُ مَا بَقِيَتِ الدُّنْيَا

I saw Paradise - or was shown Paradise - and reached for a cluster (of grapes or other fruit), and had I kept it, you would have eaten from it as long as this life remains.

Imam Muslim recorded that Jabir bin Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

يَأْكُلُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ وَيَشْرَبُونَ وَلَاأ يَتَمَخَّطُونَ وَلَاأ يَتَغَوَّطُونَ وَلَاأ يَبُولُونَ طَعَامُهُمْ جُشَاءٌ كَرِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَيُلْهَمُونَ التَّسْبِيحَ وَالتَّقْدِيسَ كَمَا يُلْهَمُونَ النَّفَس

The people of Paradise eat and drink, and they do not need to blow their noses, or answer the call of nature, or urinate, for they pass the food excrements in belches, which smell like musk. They will be inspired to praise and glorify (Allah) as spontaneously as they breathe.

Imams Ahmad and An-Nasa'i recorded that Thumamah bin Uqbah said that he heard Zayd bin Arqam say,

"A man from the People of the Scriptures came and said (to the Prophet), `O Abul-Qasim! You claim that the people of Paradise eat and drink'

The Prophet said,

نَعَمْ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ مِنْهُمْ لَيُعطَى قُوَّةَ مِايَةِ رَجُلٍ فِي الاَْكْلِ وَالشُّرْبِ وَالْجِمَاعِ وَالشَّهْوَة

Yes. By He in Whose Hand is Muhammad's life, a man among them will be given the strength of a hundred men in eating, drinking, sexual intercourse and appetite.

That man asked, `He who eats and drinks needs to relieve the call of nature, but Paradise is pure (from feces and urine).'

The Prophet said,

تَكُونُ حَاجَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ رَشْحًا يَفِيضُ مِنْ جُلُودِهِمْ كَرِيحِ الْمِسْكِ فَيَضْمُرُ بَطْنُه

One of them (residents of Paradise) relieves the call of nature through a sweat that emanates from the skin, with the scent of musk, and the stomach becomes empty again.

Imam Ahmad and An-Nasa'i collected this Hadith.

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَفَـكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ

لااَّ مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ

And fruit in plenty, whose supply is not cut off nor are they out of reach. (56;32-33)

and,

وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَـلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلً


And the shade thereof is close upon them, and the bunches of fruit thereof will hang low within their reach. (76;14)

The shade of Paradise is everlasting and never shrinks, just as Allah said,

وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَأ أَبَداً لَّهُمْ فِيهَأ أَزْوَجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَنُدْخِلُهُمْ ظِـلًّ ظَلِيلً

But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. Therein they shall have pure mates, and We shall admit them to shades wide and ever deepening. (4;57)

Allah often mentions the description of Paradise and the description of the Fire together, to make Paradise appealing and warn against the Fire. This is why, after Allah mentioned the description of Paradise here,

He next said,

تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ

وَّعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ



this is the end (final destination) of those who have Taqwa, and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire.

Allah said in another Ayah,

لَا يَسْتَوِى أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمُ الْفَأيِزُونَ

Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful. (59;20)