Sad · Makki · ayah 51 of 88

Sad 38:51

مُتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا يَدْعُونَ فِيهَا بِفَـٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَشَرَابٍ

“Reclining within them, they will call therein for abundant fruit and drink.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Settled at ease, they only have to call, and fruit of every kind and drink come to them.

A reflection

The ones who were always called

The verb here is yadʿūna, they call. The lexicons give its root a vivid picture: drawing something towards you with your voice. When the Arabs milked a camel, they left a little in the udder, the dāʿiya, to call the next milk down. When one wall fell and brought the next down with it, the walls were said to have called each other. So to call is to reach out with your voice and draw something to you.

In the Garden, the people of taqwā do the calling. One commentary pictures it plainly. Whatever they ask for, they find, present exactly as they wanted. Whatever drink they wish for, servants bring it to them.

Now think about who, in this world, is usually on the other end of a call.

At every family gathering there is one person whose name is heard all evening. First it is more tea. Then it is the spare chairs, then the baby who needs changing. Each time it is Amina's name. She is the eldest daughter, and she has been answering since she was nine. She eats last, standing in the kitchen, from whatever is left on the serving dish. When the guests leave, someone says how lovely the evening was. Nobody asks whether she sat down.

There are millions like her. Mothers called from sleep. Carers whose names are said through a wall at three in the morning. Nurses who answer one call bell after another until the shift ends. Their lives are spent being drawn towards other people's voices.

This ayah turns that around. In the Garden, the one who answered every call is the one who calls. She reclines, she asks, and it comes to her. Nobody needs her to get up.

If you are the one who is always called, hold on to this. Your answering is not lost. It is seen by the One who will one day seat you and let you call.

And if someone in your house is always the one who answers, notice them tonight. Bring her the tea. Let her sit while you fetch the chairs.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.