We have discussed the trees and fruits of Paradise, including the ripe fruits, which hang within easy reach, so that the people of Paradise may pick whatever fruits they desire.
The people will also have whatever food and drink they desire. Allah (swt) said: “And fruits, that they may choose, and the flesh of fowls that they desire.” (56: 20-21). He further said: “Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past.” (69: 24).
We have also mentioned that in Paradise there will be a sea of water, a sea of wine, a sea of milk, and a sea of honey, and the rivers of Paradise will flow out of these sea. There will also be many springs in Paradise, and its people will drink from these seas, rivers and springs. Allah (swt) said: “Verily the pious, who fear Allah and avoid evil, shall drink a cup of wine mixed water from a spring in Paradise called kafoor, a spring wherefrom the slaves of Allah will drink, causing it to gush forth abundantly.” (76: 5-6). He (swt) further said: “And they will be given to drink there of a cup of wine mixed with ginger, a spring there, called salsabil) (76: 17-18)
The wine of the people of Paradise. One of the drinks that Allah (swt) will bestow upon the people of Paradise will be wine. The wine of Paradise is free from all the troubles and problems that characterise the wine of this world, which makes people lose their minds, and causes headaches, stomach aches and other physical disorders, or which may have something wrong in the way it is made, or its colour etc. But the wine of Paradise is free from all such faults; it is pure and beautiful. Allah (swt) said: “Round them will be passed a cup of pure wine; white, delicious to the drinkers, neither will they have any kind of hurt, abdominal pain, headache, etc. from that, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.” (37: 45-47)
Allah (swt) described the beauty of its white colour, and then explained that its drinkers enjoy it very much, without it affecting their minds. Allah (swt) said: “Rivers of wine delicious to those who drink.” (47: 15). And they will never be adversely affected by drinking it. Allah (swt) said: “Nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.” (37: 47). Elsewhere in the Qur’an,Allah (swt) describes the wine of Paradise: “They will be served by immortal boys, with cups, and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine, wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.” (56: 17-19)
Commenting on this passage, Ibn Katheer said: “It does not cause their heads to aches or their minds to be fogged; it is pure, although it still contains the ingredients that make it a delight to the drinker.” Ad-Dahhak narrated that Ibn Abbas said: “Wine produces four things: drunkenness, headache, vomit and urine. Allah has mentioned the wine of Paradise, and He has purified it of all these things.”
In another part of the Qur’an, Allah (swt) said: “They will be given to drink pure sealed wine, the last thereof will be the smell of musk.” (83: 25-26). This wine is sealed or covered, and at the end of it, the drinker will find the scent of musk.
The first food of the people of Paradise. The first food which Allah (swt) will present to the people of Paradise will be the caudate (extra) lobe of fish-liver. Bukhari and Muslim reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, the earth will be like one loaf of bread,which Allah will turn around in His hands, just as any of you prepares bread whilst he is travelling, to offer it as food to the people of Paradise."
(to be continued)
