Transliteration:( Qul a'unabbi 'ukum bikhairim min zaalikum; lillazeenat taqaw 'inda Rabbihim jannaatun tajree min tahtihal anhaaru khaalideena feehaa wa azwaajum mutahharatunw wa ridwaanum minal laah; wallaahu baseerum bil'ibaad )
"Say (O Prophet): 'Shall I inform you of something better than that? For the pious, with their Lord, there will be gardens [29] underneath which rivers flow [30], wherein they will abide eternally with pure wives [31] and Allah's pleasure [32]. And, verily, Allah is seeing His devotees.'"
(Kanzul Imaan Translation)
Two significant insights emerge from this verse:
Paradise is exclusively for those who are pious—the God-fearing servants of Allah. This is evident from the phrase "for the pious", showing that the eternal reward is not for everyone, but only for those who strive to live righteously.
The use of the plural form "gardens" (jannaat) signifies that a single pious person will be blessed with multiple levels or types of Paradise, each tailored to their deeds. These varying paradises reflect Allah’s immense generosity and the elevated status of the righteous.
The mention of rivers flowing beneath the gardens points to the divine beauty and order of Paradise. These rivers are not ordinary—they include rivers of milk, honey, pure water, and heavenly drinks as described in other verses of the Qur’an.
Unlike seas, rivers are calm, beneficial, and controlled, symbolizing peace and sustainability.
Rivers are often found flowing through royal gardens and palaces, never seas—making them a more fitting metaphor for the majestic and serene setting of Paradise.
Thus, these rivers represent eternal nourishment, beauty, and tranquility, reserved for the people of Taqwa.
In Paradise, the believers will be gifted with pure wives, free from all worldly imperfections. These include:
The righteous wives of this world, who died in their husband’s Nikah.
Believing women whose disbelieving husbands will enter Hell—these women will be rewarded with Paradise and new, honorable companions.
The Hoories—heavenly maidens specially created for the eternal bliss of Paradise.
All these wives will be pure—without menstruation, illness, or any form of impurity. Their companionship will be a source of eternal peace and joy.
A beautiful example is that of Sayyidah Asiya (RA), the pious wife of Pharaoh. Despite her suffering, she will be honored in Paradise and given in marriage to our Beloved Prophet ﷺ.
The greatest reward, beyond even the gardens and spouses, is Allah’s eternal pleasure.
Allah will be pleased with them forever, and there will never again be any risk of His displeasure.
This approval of Allah is the ultimate goal and highest form of success for a believer.
Indeed, this is the crowning reward that surpasses all other joys of Paradise.
The verse ends by reminding us that Allah sees His devoted servants, meaning that nothing goes unnoticed—every struggle, every act of sincerity is watched by Allah, and will be rewarded with justice and mercy.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 15 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 14 which provides the complete commentary from verse 14 through 15.
(3:15) Say: ‘Shall I tell you of things better than these? For the God-fearing there are, with their Lord, gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they will abide for ever, will have spouses of stainless purity[11] as companions, and will enjoy the good pleasure of Allah.’ Allah thoroughly observes His servants.[12]
11. For explanation see (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 25) note 27 above.
12. This shows that God neither showers His favours on people arbitrarily nor makes casual and superficial judgements. He knows full well the deeds and intentions of people. He also knows who merits His rewards and who does not.
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