Sura-37 [As-Saffat Mecca 56]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾

37:40. But the sincere (and devoted) servants of Allah --

أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ رِزْقٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ﴿٤١﴾

37:41. For them is a Sustenance Determined,

C4060. "Sustenance": correlated with the Fruits mentioned below: see next verse.

C4061. "Determined": Malum: the reward of the Blessed will not be a chance or a fleeting thing. It will follow a firm Decree of Allah, on principles that can be known and understood.

فَوَاكِهُ...

37;42. Fruits (Delights),

C4062. "Fruits": Cf. 36:57, and n. 4003.

The Garden's Delights are figured forth from parallel experiences in our present life, and follow an ascending order:

- Food and Fruits;

- Gardens of Bliss, (with all their charm, design, greenery, birds' songs, fountains, etc.);

- the Home of Happiness and Dignity, with congenial company seated on Thrones;

- Delicious Drinks from crystal Springs, for social pleasure;

- and the society of Companions of the opposite sex, with beauty and charm but none of the grossness too often incidental to such companionship in this life.

...وَهُم مُّكْرَمُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾

and they (shall enjoy) honor and dignity.

فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿٤٣﴾

37:43. In Gardens of Felicity.

عَلَى سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَابِلِينَ ﴿٤٤﴾

37:44. Facing each other on Thrones (of dignity):

يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِكَأْسٍ مِن مَّعِينٍ ﴿٤٥﴾

37:45. Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain,

بَيْضَاء لَذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾

37:46. Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),

لَا فِيهَا غَوْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ عَنْهَا يُنزَفُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾

37:47. Free from headiness;

nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.

C4063. The passing round of the social cup, as in the case of other pleasures, is without any of the drawbacks and evil accompaniments of the pleasures of this world, which are taken as types.

In drink there is no intoxication: in fruit there is no satiety.

Cf. Dante: "the bread of Angels upon which One liveth here and grows not sated by it." (Paradiso, Canto II., Longfellow's translation.)

وَعِنْدَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ عِينٌ ﴿٤٨﴾

37:48. And beside them will be chaste women;

restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).

C4064. In the emblem used here, again, the pure type of chaste womanhood is figured. They are chaste, not bold with their glances: but their eyes are big with wonder and beauty, prefiguring grace, innocence, and a refined capacity of appreciation and admiration.

كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌ مَّكْنُونٌ ﴿٤٩﴾

37:49. As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded.

C4065. This is usually understood to refer to the delicate complexion of a beautiful woman, which is compared to the transparent shell of eggs in the nest, closely guarded by the mother-bird; the shell is warm and free from stain.

In 55:58 the phrase used is "like rubies and coral", referring to the red or pink of a beautiful complexion.

Asad’s Version:

(37:40) [Asad] Not so, however, God's true servants:"

(37:41) [in the hereafter,] theirs shall be a sustenance which they 17 will recognize

(37:42) as the fruits [of their life on earth]; and honoured shall they be

(37:43) in gardens of bliss,

(37:44) facing one another [in love] upon thrones of happiness. 18

37:45 A cup will be passed round among them [with a drink] from unsullied springs, (37:46) clear, delightful to those who drink it:

(37:47) no headiness will be in it, and they will not get drunk thereon.

(37:48) And with them will be mates of modest gaze, 19 most beautiful of eye,

(37:49) [as free of faults] as if they were hidden [ostrich] eggs. 20

37:40 [Yuksel] Except for God's servants who are faithful.

37:41 For them will be known provisions.

37:42 Fruits, and they will be honored.

37:43 In the gardens of bliss.

37:44 On furnishings which are opposite one another.

37:45 They will be served with cups of pure drinks.

37:46 Clear and tasty for the drinkers.

37:47 There is no bitterness therein, nor will they tire from it.

37:48 With them are attendants with wide eyes and a splendid look.

37:49 They are like fragile eggs.

[[Asad’s note - 17 Lit., "a known sustenance". For a tentative explanation of this phrase, see note 17 on 2:25.]]