The Goblets and Cups

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The Dress in ParadiseThe best wine of Paradise

What we need when we sit to eat is the food and not the utensils but the way of presentation and the quality of the dishware add to the flavor and sometimes they increase the taste multiple times. Qura’n in its verses has spoken many times about the beautiful dinnerware of Paradise. They have been described precisely in meaningful verses. These things present the environment of paradise briefly because everything about is actually beyond our conception.

In verse 71 of Surah Zukhruf it is said:

“Dishes and cups of gold shall be passed around to them.”

0Sihaaf” is the plural of “Sihfah” which means a wide plate. (Because the original word means to spread something).

The word “Akwab” is the plural of “Kob” and means a cup without a handle (this is the best meaning though others have been given.)

Though the term gold “Zahab” has been used for plates but it also stands for cups and goblets. (1)

In verse 18 of Surah Waqiah it says:

“With cups and jugs and a glass from the flowing wine.”

The word “Abareeq” is the plural of “Abreeq”. According to some linguists this word has evolved from the Persian “aabrez” which means a cup that has a handle and also a lip for the exit of the liquid it contains.

Jawaleeqi in al Ma’rab min Kalamol A’jami says this word in Persian means either to the path that crosses a stretch of water or for the falling of water. Some have said that this word is not connected to the Arabic word “Barq”(2) this is why the opinion of Tafsir Majmaul Bayan and Tafsir Qartabi that “Abreeq” is so named because of its glitter and light is incorrect.

The word “Ka’s” means a cup brimming with tasty water. The commentators have said this is so described because in this world the cups are filled after the drinks are poured into goblets. The verse first mentions, “Akwab” then, “abareeq” and then Ka’s” (3) the ancient poets have used the words, cups and goblets.

The point to note is that the utensils of Paradise will be of different kinds some made of gold, some of silver and some of crystal.

Verse 15 of Surah Dahr says:

“And among them will be passed around vessels of silver and goblets of crystal” and in the very next verse it says:

“Crystal clear made of silver; they will determine its measure according to their wishes.”

This is also related to Paradise because you do not find such things in this world, cups of crystal made of silver. Crystal is created from glass while silver is a metal but it is not surprising that God will create a kind of silver like it. Imam Sadiq has said in a hadith:

“The light in the eyes will penetrate (or see) the silver of heaven like the silver and crystal of this world.” (4)

What it means is that every thing in the hereafter will be amazing and as we have said earlier the utensils or dinnerware will be so beautiful that they will increase the pleasure of eating twofold.

 


 

1. Actually the sentence was “Akwab min Zahab” but “Min Zahab” has been deleted to avoid repetition.

2. At-Tahqiq fi Kalimati Qura’n alKarim

3.   See Tafsir Fakhr Razi for the explanation of this verse.
4. Tafsir Majmaul Bayan vol.10 page 410

 

The Dress in ParadiseThe best wine of Paradise
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