Food in Paradise

Every day we relish, taking different meals three times a day. Sometimes we also join with close relatives and friends. Allah is pleased with us when the guests are well attended and made happy.

If some people enter the house of a man, his food is eaten and his drink is drunk, and if they supplicate (to Allah) for him, then he gets a reward. In Islam not only the one who serves but also the one who is served gets a reward. How Merciful is Allah at us!

It is human nature that he serves the guest differently according to his likeness. It is the same way Allah prepares a feast for His Slaves. The one who has pleased Him deserves best and the one who makes Him angry will deserve differently.

Allah has not only shown signs of punishment in the Qur’an, He has also described His extent of mercy and reward. He calls us to worship Him by quoting the various gifts waiting for us. In Qur’an there are verses showing us the kind of feast in paradise.

 The water in paradise will be clear and clean. It is fetched from a clear flowing fountain Salsabil. And it is passed in no ordinary cup but in a cup of silver and crystals.

A fountain there called Salsabil [76:18]

Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain [2:45]

Crystal-white of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof) [2: 46]

It is not just water for drink there is something more. Allah will bless us with drinks with added seasoning which will surpass all tastes. Paradise is not something comparable with our world. The taste and texture of food will be pure and unique.

As to the Righteous they shall drink of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Kafur [76:5]

Kafur is literally camphor. It is a seasoning added to the cup of pure wine, which causes no intoxication but stands for all that is wholesome, agreeable, and refreshing. It is added for the coolness and refreshment for the righteous.

And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Zanjabil [76:17]

Zanjabil word literally means Ginger. Ginger gives warmth to the body and zest to the taste. To taste it we have to really work more!!

We sometimes have to wait for the right season to eat our favorite fruits. In the worst case it may not be available in the country we live in. But in the paradise Allah will gift His followers with all the fruits they desire.

And (they shall have) fruits all they desire. [77:42]

And We shall bestow on them of fruit and meat anything they shall desire [52:22]

We mostly look for a stick or stone when we spot a fruit on a tree. But what is the situation like in paradise? You will not need anything to pluck the fruit. Allah will place it your reach. How wonderful will it be to see them hang at our reach!

The Fruits whereof (will hang in bunches) low and near. [69:23]

To add to the mystic, Allah has placed certain things in paradise that we have never seen before, such as the river of milk, honey and wine. Allah has already mentioned in the Qur’an that the paradise is free of any intoxication. So the wine mentioned here is divine unlike the alcoholic drinks.

A similitude of the Garden which those who keep their duty (to Allah) are promised: Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavor changeth not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear run honey; therein for them is every kind of fruit, with pardon from their Lord…. [47:15]

Don’t you want to know what is first meal served in paradise for us?

………. And as for the first meal of the people of Paradise, it will be the caudite (i.e. extra) lobe of the fish liver……. [Sahih Al Buknari Hadith 6.7]

People were not only curious to know what would be served first they also wanted to know what would be served next. One day a Jew came and asked the Prophet (peace be upon him)

………What would constitute their breakfast when they would enter Paradise?  He (the Holy Prophet) replied: A caul of fish-liver.  He (the Jew) said: What would be their food after this?  He (the Holy Prophet) said: a bullock which was fed in the different quarters of Paradise would be slaughtered for them.  He (the Jew) said: What would be their drink?  He (the Holy Prophet) said: They would be given a drink from the fountain which is named Salsabil………. [Sahih Muslim Hadith 614]

But what happens to all food we eat? Is the digestive systems is different in paradise? Paradise is a place that is free from any pollutant or dirt. The food and drink is so pure in nature that there will be no work your digestive system. Still didn’t get it. Read this hadith from Sahih Muslim.

I heard Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) as saying that the inmates of Paradise would eat and drink but would neither spit, nor pass water, nor void excrement, nor suffer catarrh. It was said: Then, what would happen with food? Thereupon he said: They would belch and sweat (and it would be over with their food), and their sweat would be that of musk and they would glorify and praise Allah as easily as you breathe.

We struggle and work a life time to fill our stomach. It is the work same that will decide what will out stomach in the Hereafter. Work and live with faith. Let Allah help us all.