Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 343
343 Lord” (47:16). The verse begins by saying that this is a similitude of the Garden promised to the righteous. The streams and their contents signify certain spiritual qualities or conditions. For instance, water signifies prosperity of every kind; milk signifies knowledge of Divine attributes; wine signifies man’s love for God (which is why we often hear of a person being drunk or intoxicated with joy or with love of a person or of God); and honey signifies the Grace and Mercy of God. In connection with the mention of wine in this context, it should be remembered that this wine is not liquor. The Quran describes it as “sparkling, white, delicious to the drinkers, wherein there is no intoxication nor will they be exhausted thereby” (37:47 ⎯ 48). Again: “Out of a flowing spring, no headache will they get therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated” (56:19 ⎯ 20). Conversely, the torments of the wicked are described as “Allah’s kindled fire, which rises over the hearts,” which again clearly means that these are the consequences of evil conduct which, through the operation of Divine law, assume the quality of kindled fire rising over the heart, constituting a torment for the heart (104:7 ⎯ 8). The Quran states, for instance, that hell has seven gates (15:45). Hell not being a defined, physical region, “gates” in this context can only mean ways of approach or means of entrance. The words “seven”