يُسقَونَ مِن رَحيقٍ مَختومٍ

خِتامُهُ مِسكٌ ۚ وَفي ذٰلِكَ فَليَتَنافَسِ المُتَنافِسونَ

As they are served with a sealed wine,

whose seal is musk – for such let the viers vie.

EXEGESIS

Raḥīq means a pure drink which is free of impurities or fraud.^{‎[1]Mizan, 20/238.}

Makhtūm, with reference to the drink, means sealed, which further indicates that it is original and pure. It could also mean the last and ending taste of it.^{‎[2]Amthal, 20/36.}  

EXPOSITION

Describing the pure drink as sealed indicates that it is valuable and that its purity is preserved.^{‎[3]Mizan, 20/238.} It has been said that seal in verse 26 may refer to the final taste of the drink which is that of musk.^{‎[4]Mizan, 20/238.} The spiritual, mental, and physical pleasure caused by that drink is of such a standard that every pleasure, knowledge, and virtue compared to it is next to none; and if man is to aspire for anything then let him aspire for the state given to him by that drink.

It might be inferred from these verses that the real thing for which people should strive and compete is the exalted status and bliss in heaven, compared to the muṭaffifīn who compete in hiding the little, meaningless valuables they steal from people, or the fujjār who compete in transgression on earth.^{‎[5]Qutb, 6/3860.} Competing in satisfying God exalts people to the highest status in ʿilliyyīn, whereas competing in transgression lowers people to the lowest status in sijjīn.^{‎[6]Qutb, 6/3860.}

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. It is narrated that Imam al-Sajjād (a) said: ‘Whoever feeds a hungry believer, God will feed him from the fruits of paradise; and whoever waters a thirsty believer, God will water him from the sealed, pure drink (raḥīq makhtūm).’^{‎[7]Kafi, 2/201, h. 5.}

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Rāzī has mentioned two possible meanings for whose seal is musk: 1. The vessels containing the drink will carry the seal of musk instead of clay, which preserves its purity and indicates its high value. 2. When that drink will pass down the throat, its final effect will be of the flavour of musk.^{‎[8]Razi, 31/92.}

[1] Mizan, 20/238.
[2] Amthal, 20/36.
[3] Mizan, 20/238.
[4] Mizan, 20/238.
[5] Qutb, 6/3860.
[6] Qutb, 6/3860.
[7] Kafi, 2/201, h. 5.
[8] Razi, 31/92.