Life Supreme — Page 70
LIFE SUPREME 73 273 10. RIVERS OF HONEY. A description of the Garden promised to the righteous: ""Therin are rivers of water which corrupts not; and rivers of milk of which the taste changes not; and rivers of wine, a delight to those who drink, and rivers of clarified honey. And in it they will have all kinds of fruit and forgiveness from their Lord. " (47:16). The above verse is a similitude of paradise and not a literal description, for Islam teaches that the blessings of the Hereafter are beyond human conception: "And no soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden from them, as a reward of their good works. " (32:18). Commenting on this verse, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) said: "The blessings of paradise are things which the eye hath not seen, nor hath the ear heard, nor has it entered the heart of man to conceive of them. ". God has compared the joys of paradise with some of the good things of this world, thereby enabling man to have a faint idea of their gloriousness and the nature of that celestial life. As water refreshes and cleanses so in the next life will the righteous be spiritually refreshed and cleansed. Milk indicates spiritual knowledge and it is a blessed omen to see oneself drinking milk in a dream. Wine signifies love for. God; a wine which does not intoxicate (37:48); and honey signifies the sweet efficacy of God's Graciousness and Mercy. . Elsewhere in the Holy Quran the names of some fruits associated with paradise have been mentioned such as dates, grapes and pomegranates. It is not without significance that all the produce referred to in connection with paradise are highly nutritious and beneficial commodities. Dates have been acclaimed the most valuable of food fruits. Grapes are not only nutritious but possess remarkable curative properties capable of even ridding the body of cancerous growths. . The nutritional value of milk is a matter of general knowledge and the wonders of honey will now be elaborated upon. . Honey has been commended in the Holy Quran and special reference has been made to the bee: "And thy Lord has inspired the bee saying, 'Make thou houses in the