Surah 37. As-Saffat

22"A known provision" : A provision All of whose characteristics have been made known to them, which they are sure to receive, about which they have also the full satisfaction that they will continue to receive it for ever, and about which there is no apprehension that they may or may not get it at some time.

23In this there is a subtle allusion to this also that in Paradise food will be provided not to serve as food but for pleasure and delight. That is, the food there will not be meant to replenish the bodily deficiencies through diet, for no deficiency whatever will occur in the body in that eternal life, nor will man have appetite, for appetite is caused by the process of assimilation in the body, nor will the body demand food for its survival. That is why the word fawakih has been used for the different kinds of food in Paradise, which contains the sense of taste and pleasure more than that of nutrition.

24That is, `It will not be the kind of wine that is extracted from rotten fruit and corn in the world, but it will flow naturally from fountains like canals. In Surah Muhammad, the same thing has been described more clearly, thus: ........and canals will be flowing in it of wine which will be delightful for the drinkers." (v. 15)

25Here the word ka `s (cup) only has been used and there is no mention of the wine. But in Arabic the use of ka's always implies wine. The cup which contains milk or water, instead of wine, or is empty, is not called ka's. The word ka's is used for a cup only when it contains wine.

26Here it has not been mentioned as to who will take these cups of wine round to the dwellers of Paradise. This has been stated at other places: `And there will go round to them young boys, exclusively appointed for their service, who will be as lovely as well-guarded pearls." (At-Tur :24). `They will be attended by brisk-moving boys who will for ever remain boys. If you saw them, you would think they were pearls, scattered." (Ad-Dahr: 19). Then, its further details are found in the traditions related by Hadrat Anas and Hadrat Samurah bin Jundub from the Holy Prophet, according to which: `The children of the mushrikin will be attendants of the dwellers of Paradise." (Abu Da`ud Tayalisi, Tabarani, Bazzar). Though these traditions are weak as regards their links of transmitters, there are several other Ahadith which mean that children who died young, before attaining maturity, will go to Paradise. Ahadith also show that the children whose parents are blessed with Paradise, will live with them so as to be a comfort of the eyes for them. This leaves behind those children whose parents will not go to Paradise. Thus, with regard to them, it seems reasonable that they will be made the attendants of the dwellers of Paradise. (For a detailed discussion of this, see Fath ul-Bari and 'Umdat ul-Qari: Kitab ul-Jana'iz, Bab; Maqila fi aulad il -mushrikin; Rasa 'il-o-Masa'il, vol. III, pp. 177-187).