give resistance to disease; they are very rich in vitamins and
minerals, and are refreshing and give health and even beauty. The
Messenger of Allah said the following aboutthis blessing of the
Garden:
When opened, each fruit of the lote-tree of the Garden yields
seventy-two colours andtypes of food, and no colour or type is like
anyother. (Mukhtasar Tadhkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 312/517)
The Messenger drew attention to the colour and variety of fruit in the
Garden. The fact thatthey are so different from one another will
bepleasing to people. They will not always have the same shape, smell,
taste or colour; they will be created in such a variety that people
will be surprised and excited because every time they see them will be
like the very first time. These are only one of the manifestations of
Allah's endless creative power and artistry. This variety,which in the
world is already overwhelming, will be without limit in the Garden.
The blessings of the Garden will be presented to its people in the
most pleasant way. Allah will give thema banquet and servants created
for this service will serve the various fruits to them on gold and
silver trays, doing sowith pleasure and attention. In one verse, Allah
says:
We are your protectors in the life of this world and the Hereafter.
You will have there all that your selves could wish for. You will have
there everything you demand. Hospitality from One Who is
Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Fussilat: 31-32)
A Bedouin came to the Prophet and asked him "Is there fruit there?" He
said, "Yes, and there is a tree calledTuba," and he mentioned
something which I do not know what it was. The Bedouin asked, "What
tree of this land does it resemble?" He said, "It does not resemble
any tree of your land. Have you been to Syria?" He said, "No." He
said, "It resembles a tree in Syriacalled al-Jawzah (walnut) which
grows with one trunk then spreads out its brancheshigher up." The
Bedouinasked, "How big is its trunk?" He said, "If one of the camels
of your people was to go around it, it would not complete one circuit
before its neck broke of old age and exhaustion." The Bedouin asked,
"Are there grapes there?" He said, "Yes." He asked, "How big is a
bunch?" He said, "The distance a crow could fly without stopping in a
month." He asked, "How big is one grape?" He said, "Does your father
ever slaughter a he-goat from his flocks?" He said, "Yes." He said,
"Anddoes he skin it and give the hide to your mother,and say, 'Make me
a bucket'?" He said, "Yes." The Bedouin asked, "Is one grape big
enough to satisfy me and my family?" He said, "Yes, and your whole
tribe." (Reported by 'Utbah ibn 'Abdin al-Salami, Ahmad ibn Hanbal)
When we consider the fruits of the Garden, we must not think in terms
of this world's limitations. In the above hadith, the Prophet
gaveexamples of only a few fruits, but the Garden is a place where
everything desired will be provided in a most wonderful way; there are
many other blessingsthere that do not occur to our minds but will give
us great pleasure.
Here are some verses from the Qur'an in whichAllah mentions the fruits
of the Garden:
Amid thornless lote-treesand banana-trees [with fruits]. (Surat
al-Waqi'a: 28-29)
In them are fruits and date-palms and pomegranates. (Surat ar-Rahman: 68)
And fruits in abundance never failing, unrestricted. (Surat al-Waqi'a: 32-33)
They will have preordained provision: sweet fruits and high honour in
Gardens of Delight. (Surat as-Saffat: 41-43)
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