Surah Al-Insan 76:16
ﲗ ﲘ ﲙ ﲚ ﲛ
Clear glasses [made] from silver of which they have determined the measure.
Tafsir of Al-Insan 76:11-22
Tafsir
Al-Kashshaf
Verse range: 76:11-22
{And He gave them splendor and joy} Meaning: He gave them, in exchange for the scowling and grief of the wicked, splendor in their faces and joy in their hearts. This indicates that the Day [of Judgment] is described by the scowling of its people.
{Because they were patient} Meaning: Because of their patience in practicing altruism (īthār).
Regarding the report from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): Hasan and Husayn fell ill, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) visited them with others. They said, "O Abu al-Hasan, if you were to make a vow for your children..." So Ali, Fatima, and their servant Fiddah vowed that if they recovered, they would fast for three days. They were healed, but they had nothing. Ali borrowed three sa‘ of barley from Shimon the Khaybarian Jew. Fatima ground one sa‘ and baked five loaves—one for each of them. They placed them before them to break their fast, but a beggar stood at their door saying, "Peace be upon you, O household of Muhammad! I am a poor man among the Muslims; feed me, and may Allah feed you from the tables of Paradise." They gave him preference and spent the night tasting nothing but water. They began the next day fasting. When evening came and they placed the food before them, an orphan stood at their door; they gave him preference. On the third day, a captive stood at their door, and they did the same.
When morning came, Ali took the hands of Hasan and Husayn and went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When he saw them trembling like chicks from the intensity of hunger, he said, "How deeply it grieves me to see what you are in!" He went with them and saw Fatima in her prayer niche, her back stuck to her stomach [from hunger] and her eyes sunken. This grieved him, so Gabriel descended and said, "Take this, O Muhammad! May Allah congratulate you regarding your household," and he recited the Surah to him.
{And its shades will be brought low over them} If you ask: What is the meaning of mentioning silk alongside Paradise? I say: The meaning is that He rewarded their patience regarding altruism—and the hunger and nakedness it led to—with a garden containing wholesome food and silk containing beautiful clothing.
{And its shades will be brought low over them} This is a state (ḥāl) for those being rewarded. It is a sentence in the position of a single noun, meaning: "Not seeing therein any sun or freezing cold, and its shades being brought low over them." The waw is added to show that both conditions are gathered for them. It is as if it were said: "He rewarded them with a garden, combining in it both distance from heat and cold, and the closeness of the shades over them."
{Crystal-clear, [made of] silver} They are created from silver, possessing the whiteness and beauty of silver, yet with the clarity and transparency of crystal.
{They determined them [as they wished]} Meaning: They determined them in their own minds to be of the sizes and shapes according to their desires, and they came exactly as they determined. It is also said the pronoun refers to those who serve them, meaning they determined the drink to be exactly the amount needed to quench thirst—neither more nor less.
{A spring therein named Salsabil} The spring is called *Zanjabil* (ginger) because of the taste of ginger in it, which the Arabs found delicious. It is called *Salsabil* because of the smoothness of its descent into the throat and the ease of its swallowing. It is the opposite of the stinging sensation of alcohol; it is pure smoothness.
{And when you look there, you will see bliss and a great kingdom} "You will see" has no explicit or implied object so that it may be general and encompassing. It is as if it were said: "When vision is brought into existence, the observer's sight will not attach to anything but abundant bliss and a great kingdom."
{And there} (thamma) is in the position of an accusative of place, meaning "in Paradise."
{Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and brocade} *‘Āliyahum* (upon them) is read with a *sukūn* (as a nominal sentence) or with a *fatḥah* (as a state). *Khudur* (green) and *Istabraq* (brocade) are read in the nominative, following the status of "garments," or in the genitive, following "silk."
{And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver} If you ask: It is mentioned here that their bracelets are of silver, but in another place that they are of gold. I say: Suppose it is said they are adorned with both gold and silver. This is correct; they are adorned with both, either alternately or together, just as women of this world combine different types of jewelry.
{And their Lord will give them a pure drink} It is not *rijs* (filth) like the wine of this world. It is not *rijs* because it is not fermented, nor touched by dirty hands, nor trodden by filthy feet, nor placed in vessels that were not cleaned. Or, it does not lead to impurity because it exudes as sweat from their bodies with a scent like musk.
{Indeed, this is for you a reward, and your effort has been appreciated} It is said to the people of Paradise: "This is what you have been rewarded with for your deeds, and your striving has been thanked." And thanks is a reward.