The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 142
136 observing these bounties, will recognise them that they had been bestowed these bounties aforetime also, as Allah, the Glorious has said: وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّلِحَتِ اَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّتٍ تَجْرِى مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهرُ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقًا قَالُوا هَذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَأتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهَا ) 186 That is, give glad tidings to those who believe and work perfect righteousness that they will inherit Gardens beneath which rivers flow. When in the next world they are provided with fruits from the trees which they will have already tasted in the life of the world, they will exclaim: This is what we were given before, because they will find that those fruits resemble the fruits which they have already tasted. It is not to be supposed from the wording of this verse that on beholding the bounties of paradise the dwellers of paradise will discover that they are the same bounties which had been bestowed. upon them in their previous life. This would be a great mistake and would be contrary to the true meaning of the verse. What God Almighty has said here is that those who believe and work righteousness, build a 186. And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good works, that for them are Gardens beneath which flow streams. Whenever they are given a portion of fruit therefrom, they will say: This is what was given us before,' and gifts mutually resembling shall be brought to them. (The Holy Quran, al- Baqarah 2:26)