"The description of Paradise promised to the pious is that therein are rivers of such waters which never stagnate, and the rivers [35] of milk whose taste does not [36] change, and rivers of delightful [37] drinks, and the rivers of honey purified [38]. And therein for them are every kind of fruit [39], and forgiveness [40] from their Lord. Can those enjoying such comforts be equal to those who remain forever in the fire, and are given to drink boiling water so that it may cut their bellies into pieces [41]?"
This verse describes multiple rivers in every home of Paradise, not just a few. The phrase indicates abundance—not scarcity. Unlike the limited rivers of this world, the rivers of Paradise are infinite and widespread, a sign of endless bounties.
In this world, water and milk spoil with time, their taste and appearance change. But in Paradise, they remain eternally fresh and pure, without decay. Like the sun and moon that have been functioning for millennia without losing their glow, these rivers too remain unaffected by time or corruption.
The drinks of Paradise are purely delightful, created for pleasure and refreshment only. They are neither intoxicating, nor harmful, nor do they carry any foul odor or post-drinking discomfort—unlike worldly alcohol which leads to headaches, nausea, and sin.
The honey of Paradise will not originate from bees, nor contain wax or impurities. It is pure in essence from the very beginning. "Purified" here means it was created in its purest form, not filtered or cleaned after being mixed with other substances.
Every kind of tasty fruit will be available in Paradise at all times, without any seasonal limitation or prohibition. Unlike the world where some fruits are out of season or unfit for certain people, in Paradise, all fruits are accessible and universally agreeable. The word "from" indicates that these are only a fraction of Allah’s limitless treasures.
Along with physical delights, the spiritual bounty of complete forgiveness is granted. Believers are freed from past sins, and in Paradise they will enjoy unrestricted access to all blessings—free from the boundaries of religious prohibitions, as such restrictions no longer apply there.
The boiling water and eternal fire mentioned are for disbelievers, who deliberately rejected the truth. They consumed the unlawful as if it were lawful. Even if a believer sins, he acknowledges its unlawfulness, which makes a critical difference. If a believer wrongly declares something haram as halal, that could render him an infidel—but merely sinning without denial of its haram status does not.
The tafsir of Surah Muhammad verse 15 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Muhammad ayat 14 which provides the complete commentary from verse 14 through 15.
(47:15) Here is the parable of Paradise which the God-fearing have been promised: in it shall be rivers of incorruptible water,[20] rivers of milk unchanging in taste,[21]and rivers of wine, a delight to those that drink;[22] and rivers of pure honey.[23] In it they will have every kind of fruit as well as forgiveness from their Lord.[24] Can such be like those who will abide in the Fire and will be given a boiling water to drink that will tear their bowels apart?
20. Literally, aasin is the taste and color of water which has changed, or which gives a bad smell. In the world the water of rivers and canals is generally muddy; its taste and color change due to the mixture of sand and dust and of different kinds of vegetation in it, and it also gives off a kind of bad smell. Therefore, the quality of the water of the rivers and canals of Paradise will be such that it will be pure and clear, without any adulteration.
21. In a Hadith directly reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him), it has been explained thus: It will not be the milk squeezed from the milk glands of animals. That is, it will be the milk which Allah will bring out in the form of springs from the earth and cause it to flow into canals of Paradise. About this natural milk it has been said: Its flavor will not change at all; that is, it will not give even the slightest offensive smell that is found in every kind of milk squeezed from the animal milk glands.
22. In another Hadith reported directly from the Prophet (peace be upon him), it has been explained, thus: This wine will not have been distilled from rotten fruit by beating and fermenting, like the wine in the world, but Allah will produce it also in the form of springs and cause it to flow into canals; then its quality will be such that it will be delightful for the drinkers. That is, it will not be bitter and foul-smelling like the wines of the world, which cannot be drunk even by the most habitual drinker without showing some distaste. In Surah As-Saffat, another quality of it has been described: Neither will the drinker be harmed physically thereby nor become drunk. (Surah Muhammad, ayat 47). In Surah Al-Waqiah it has been said: Which will neither cause them giddiness nor affect their sense. (Surah Muhammad, ayat 19). This shows that wine will not intoxicate, but will only give pleasure and delight.
23. In the Hadith it has been explained, thus: The honey will not have been drawn from the bees’ bellies, but it will also come out from springs and flow into canals; therefore, it will not have wax, and pieces of the honey-comb and legs of dead bees mixed in it, but it will be absolutely pure.
24. The mention of forgiveness from Allah after the blessings of Paradise can have two meanings:
(1) That the greatest blessing by far will be that Allah will forgive them.
(2) That the errors and faults that they happened to commit in the world, will not even so much as be mentioned before them, but Allah will cover them up forever so that they are not put to shame in Paradise.
[1498]- In taste or smell, neither stagnant nor polluted.
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