Surah At-Tur (52): 22

وَأَمْدَدْنَاهُمْ بِفَاكِهَةٍ وَلَحْمٍ . . . . .

This means We increased for them what they eat and drink. As for what they eat, it is the fruit and the meat, and as for what they drink, it is the cup over which they will dispute. There are subtleties in its interpretation:

When Allah said, {We shall join with them their offspring} (At-Tur: 21), He clarified the increase (إمداد) so that this follows the custom of kings in this world. When they increase the provision for one of their servants, they increase the status of their stipends and land grants. He chose the highest types of food: fruit and meat, as these are the food of the comfortable. He gathered good descriptions in the phrase {of whatever they desire} (implied by context), because if He had mentioned only one type, that type might not be desired by some people. Thus, He said that everyone will be given what they desire.

If one asks: Desire (Ishtihā') is like hunger and involves a type of pain. We reply: It is not so. Rather, desire involves pleasure, and Allah, the Exalted, does not leave the desire without the desired object, causing pain. Instead, the desired object is present along with the desire. In this world, a person only feels pain from one of two things: either from a true desire and the inability to reach the desired object, or from having various foods and drinks available while their desire has ceased. Both of these are negated in the Hereafter.

When Allah said, {We shall join with them their offspring, and We shall not deprive them of anything of their deeds} (referencing the negation of deficiency), this is confirmed by the attainment of negative things (i.e., not having bad things). He clarified that the negation of deficiency is not achieved merely by restricting things to the bad ones, but rather through another way, which is increase and provision (ms8454).

If one asks: Why did Allah mention eating and drinking so much? Some Gnostics say that for the special ones of Allah, being with Allah is an occupation that distracts them from eating, drinking, and everything other than Allah. We reply: This applies to their actions (Amal), which is why Allah says, {a recompense for what they used to do} (Al-Waqi'ah: 24) and {for what you used to do} (At-Tur: 16). As for their knowledge (Ilm) of Allah, that is different, which is why He says: {For them therein is fruit, and for them is whatever they call for. Peace—a saying from a Merciful Lord.} This means that the souls have what they take pleasure in (fruit), and the spirits have what they long for of closeness and proximity (to Allah).

! 7 < {They will pass around in it a cup wherein there is no vain talk, nor any sin.} > 7

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