88:14 Al-Ghaashiya (The Overwhelming)

{ وَأَكْوَابٌ مَوْضُوعَةٌ } أي: أوان ممتلئة من أنواع الأشربة اللذيذة، قد وضعت بين أيديهم، وأعدت لهم، وصارت تحت طلبهم واختيارهم، يطوف بها عليهم الولدان المخلدون.

يعني أواني الشرب معدة مرصدة لمن أرادها من أربابها.

The Condition of the People of Paradise on the Day of Judgement

After mentioning the situation of the wretched people, Allah changes the discussion to mention those who will be happy. He says,

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ

(Faces that Day.) meaning, on the Day of Judgement.

نَّاعِمَةٌ

(will be joyful,) meaning, pleasure will be noticeable in them (those faces). This will only occur due to their striving. Sufyan said,

لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ

(Glad with their endeavor.) "They will be pleased with their deeds." Then Allah says,

فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ

(In a lofty Paradise.) meaning, elevated and brilliant, secure in their dwellings.

لاَّ تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَـغِيَةً

(Where they shall neither hear harmful speech nor falsehood.) meaning, they will not hear in the Paradise that they will be in, any foolish word. This is as Allah says,

لاَّ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْواً إِلاَّ سَلَـماً

(They shall not hear therein any Laghw, but only Salam.) (19:62) Allah also says,

لاَّ لَغْوٌ فِيهَا وَلاَ تَأْثِيمٌ

(Free from any Laghw, and free from sin.) (52:23) and He says,

لاَ يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْواً وَلاَ تَأْثِيماً - إِلاَّ قِيلاً سَلَـماً سَلَـماً

(No Laghw will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech. But only the saying of: "Salam! Salam!" ) (56:25-26) Then Allah continues,

فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ

(Therein will be a running spring.) meaning, flowing freely. This is mentioned with the intent of emphasizing affirmation. It is not intended to mean that there is only one spring. So here it refers to springs collectively. Thus, the meaning is that in it (Paradise) are flowing springs. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ تَفَجَّرُ مِنْ تَحْتِ تِلَالِ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ جِبَالِ الْمِسْك»

(The rivers of Paradise spring forth from beneath hills -- or mountains -- of musk.)

فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَّرْفُوعَةٌ

(Therein will be thrones raised high.) meaning, lofty, delightful, numerous couches, with elevated ceilings. Upon which will be seated wide-eyed, beautiful maidens. They have mentioned that whenever the friend of Allah wishes to sit on these lofty thrones, they (the thrones) will lower themselves for him.

وَأَكْوَابٌ مَّوْضُوعَةٌ

(And cups set at hand.) meaning, drinking containers that are prepared and presented for whoever among their masters (i.e., the people of Paradise) wants them.

وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ

(And Namariq set in rows.) Ibn `Abbas said, "An-Namariq are pillows." This was also said by `Ikrimah, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri and others. Concerning Allah's statement,

وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ

(And Zarabi, spread out (Mabthuthah).) Ibn `Abbas said, "Az-Zarabi are carpets." This was also said by Ad-Dahhak and others. Here the word Mabthuthah means placed here and there for whoever would like to sit upon them.

and goblets vessels without handles set around the edges of the springs prepared for them to drink with

Etiquette of Living

وَأَكْوَابٌ مَّوْضُوعَةٌ (and goblets, well placed...88:14) The word akwab is the plural of kub and it refers to a 'goblet', a 'glass' or a cup for drinking water. It has been qualified by the adjective maudu’ ah and it means 'well placed'. This signifies that the glasses or cups or containers will be set in their due places close to water. This description opens an important chapter in setting down some of the rules of correct behaviour in social situations. The drinking containers for water ought to be placed near the water in the designated place. They should not be misplaced so that the other members of the household will have to look for them when they wish to drink water. This situation is irritating. Other household items of daily use, such as cans, glasses, towels, and so on, should be arranged in their designated places, and after using them, they must be kept back in their respective places, so that the other members of the household do not face any difficulty in finding them out. A11 this is deducible from the word maudu'ah 'well placed', because Allah has arranged the goblets near the water for the comfort of the inmates of Paradise.