Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)

Verse 17 - 19

Table of Contents

    17. Immortal youths shall go around them in glory and freshness,

    18. With cups, jugs, and a glass of flowing springs of Paradise [or pure wine],

    19. Wherefrom they shall get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.

    The first two blessed Verses in question are saying that the people of Paradise reclining on those magnificent thrones are in a safe place around whom boys and youths of fair face and good character possessing utmost beauty move. They were originally created in Paradise and are immortal.

    They serve the people of Paradise with jugs and glasses with or without handle, namely all kinds of vessels. The third blessed Verse is saying that the people of Paradise drink from bowels filled with the wine of Paradise and pure water which may allude to the water of springs flowing in Paradise, or pure wine mingled with camphor and ginger.

    Such wine causes neither headache nor intoxication. The Arabic word akwab is applied to jugs without handles and narrow mouths, similar to mundane jugs. The Arabic word abariq is the plural of ibriq denoting a vessel with a handle and a narrow mouth. Ka’s designates a glass brimming with wine or other drinks.

    Ma’in is applied to drink. The verbal form yusadda‘un denotes headache. The verbal form yunzafun derives from n-z-f originally denoting gradual extraction of water from a well but it ad hoc connotes "driving mad."