Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:72

Surah Ar-Rahman (55): Verse 72

{حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ} (Houris, confined in pavilions)

Exegesis:

The term {مَّقْصُورَاتٌ} (confined/restrained) does not imply that they are restricted or imprisoned. Rather, it signifies the setting up of tents (خيام) for them and drawing curtains around them.

A tent (خيمة) is like a house made of wood, intended for dwelling. The Arabs even call a house made of hair/wool a tent because it is prepared for residence.

If this is established, then the statement {مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ} points to a meaning of utmost delicacy:

1. The believer in Paradise will not need to move for anything; rather, things move toward him. Food and drink reach him without any movement on his part.
2. Those around him (the Houris) will be brought to him as he desires.
3. The Houris will be in their dwellings. When it is time to move to the believers, they will travel with them.
4. For travel, they have tents (خيام), and for the believers, there are palaces (قصور). The Houris descend from the tents to the palaces.

The preceding statement, {لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ} (Whom no man or jinn has touched before them), has already been explained.

{مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَى رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ * فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ} (Reclining on green cushions and beautiful carpets. Then which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?)