Adh-Dhariyat · Makki · ayah 15 of 60

Adh-Dhariyat 51:15

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ

“Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs,”

Saheeh International

Essence

After the flood and the fire comes the other destination: the mindful are in gardens and springs.

A reflection

A flood, and a spring

These exact words also open a passage in Al-Hijr (15:45), and a near-twin appears in At-Tur (52:17). What is new here is where they stand. Four ayat ago the deniers were fī ghamra: in a flood, water closed over their heads (51:11). Now the mindful are fī jannātin wa ʿuyūn: in gardens and springs.

The same little word, fī, in. Both groups are immersed, and both in water. But one water drowns and the other refreshes. The lexicons say a spring is called ʿayn, eye, for the clearness of its water. To dig until water breaks out is to reach the eyes. A flood blinds. A spring is like an eye that sees.

The surah has set two waters side by side. Which one we end up in is being decided now, by what we let close over our hearts.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.