في سِدرٍ مَخضودٍ

Amid thornless lote trees.

EXEGESIS

Sidrin makhḍūd is apparently cedar or lote trees that are thornless and smooth.^{‎[1]Raghib; Qamus, under kh-ḍ-d.} It has also been interpreted as trees that have flexible and pliant branches, such that they provide a vast shade, or have been bent down due to their load of fruits.^{‎[2]Raghib; Qamus, under kh-ḍ-d and s-d-r.} However, the idea of shade and fruits are mentioned in the verses that follow, making the first meaning more likely. The lote trees mentioned here could be of the same type as the tree that the Prophet came by in his ascension (53:14, 53:16). In this sense, the verse could be a reference to a spiritual position or a level of gnosis.^{‎[3]Sadra, 7/47-48.}

EXPOSITION

The people of the right hand will be in utmost bliss and pleasure which is beyond our comprehension and imagination. These descriptions are only to make it as tangible and understandable for us as possible, given our limitations. They will reside in gardens full of trees that are abundant in fruit and blossoms, without any thorn or hardship.

The thornless trees of paradise are for those who do not pierce the souls of others by their words or actions. It may also refer to the removal and forgiveness of one’s sins by the mercy of God.^{‎[4]Furqan, 28/72.} The clustered fruits and blossoms are for those who do good after good and do not stop at any level of righteousness: ‘They are not pleased with their few acts [of good], and they do not considered their many acts as many.’^{‎[5]Nahj, sermon 193.} The rest and comfort in the hereafter are for those who sacrifice their rest and comfort here for the sake of their beloved, and send something in advance for their eternal life: O you who have faith! Be wary of Allah, and let every soul consider what it sends ahead for tomorrow, and be wary of Allah (59:18); Whatever good you send ahead for your souls you will find it with Allah [in a form] that is better and greater with respect to reward (73:20).

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

There are many narrations elaborating on the heavenly bounties discussed in this verse and the following few verses. Only a few are presented here as an illustration of the magnificent rewards that God has prepared for His righteous servants. All of these narrations can be summarised and summed up by the following verse: No one knows what has been kept hidden for them of comfort, as a reward for what they used to do (32:17). These descriptions may be more of an illusion and fantasy in the modern world, which ignores, or even denies, anything beyond the material world, but they are real and present in the eyes of the people of certitude (yaqīn). In fact, the whole purpose of these verses and narrations is to turn our attention to higher levels of existence and superior pleasures, and to create a craving and yearning in us toward these rewards.

1. One day, a desert Arab came to the Prophet and said: ‘O Messenger of God, indeed God has mentioned a bothersome tree in the Quran, but I thought there should not be any tree in paradise that would bother its owner,’ and he identified the tree as the lote tree (sidr), ‘For indeed it has thorns.’ The Prophet said: ‘Does not God say: Amid thornless lote trees? God will remove its thorns and replace each thorn with a fruit. It will grow fruits, each of which will consist of seventy-two unique types of food.’^{‎[6]Suyuti, 6/156.}

[1] Raghib; Qamus, under kh-ḍ-d.
[2] Raghib; Qamus, under kh-ḍ-d and s-d-r.
[3] Sadra, 7/47-48.
[4] Furqan, 28/72.
[5] Nahj, sermon 193.
[6] Suyuti, 6/156.