Surah Ar-Rahman, Ayah 58

مُتَّكِئِينَ

(Reclining), in reference to the residents of Paradise, who will recline or sit cross-legged;

عَلَى فُرُشٍ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ

(upon the couches lined with Istabraq,) which is thick silk brocade, according to `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah. Abu `Imran Al-Jawni said, "It is thick silk embroidered with gold." In this way, the honor of the outside is alluded to by mentioning the honor of the inside. Abu Ishaq narrated that Hubayrah bin Yarim said that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "This is their interior, so what about it if you see their exterior" Allah said,

وَجَنَى الْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ

لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ (...whom neither a man will have touched before them, nor a Jinn....55:56). The word طْمِث tamth has different meanings. 'Menstrual discharge' is termed as tamth, and the menstruating woman as طْامِث 'tamith'. It also means 'sexual intercourse with a virgin'. This second sense is meant here in this verse.

There are two classes of paradise. The Paradise with two gardens mentioned in these verses is that of the first category. In this Paradise, royal fare will be provided. Such bounties will be available to those who were so overwhelmed by thoughts of God that in the present world itself they made themselves stand, as if in the august presence of God. They related to God on the level of Ehsan, that is, experiencing the presence of God in this world itself.