إِنَّ المُتَّقينَ في جَنّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ

Indeed the God-wary will be amid gardens and streams.

EXEGESIS

Nahar (stream, pl. anhār) is another term for nahr which means expansive running water.[1] According to some, it may mean any vast expanse. It is based on this meaning that vast expanses, greatly flowing grace, and radiating light could be called nahar.[2] In the meaning of river, since the singular is used, it could be referring to a specific stream in paradise such as kawthar.[3] It could also be a genus for river, referring to all rivers in paradise. Since gardens are in the plural form, most exegetes understand stream in the genus form and thus gives the meaning of plural, i.e. many streams.[4]

Alternatively, it could mean that the God-wary shall be in expansive gardens, benefiting from the ample grace and extensive provisions of the Almighty.[5] Whilst the former meaning seems more apparent, the latter meaning is supported by a narration attributed to the Holy Prophet as reported by Ibn Abbas: ‘Al-nahar means expanse and vastness, not a running river.’[6]

[1] Tahqiq, 12/287.
[2] Mizan, 19/88.
[3] Razi, 29/332.
[4] Amthal, 17/348.
[5] Amthal, 17/348; Alusi, 14/94.
[6] Suyuti, 6/139.