22 The Rivers and Seas in the Garden:

Sources of water are abundant, refreshing and cleansing, and places
near water often have a climate that is both more liveable and
pleasing to people because of its temperateness. For this reason,
places that people choose for relaxation are often near the sea, on
lake-shores or on the banks of rivers. So, in the Qur'an, Allah,
glorious is He and exalted, says that those who have taqwa will, by
Allah's mercy, be "amid Gardens and Springs." (Surat al-Hijr: 45)
The Prophet made frequent mention of the rivers in the Garden:
The rivers of the Garden spring from mountains or hills of musk.
(Mukhtasar Tadhkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 307/501)
Sayhan, Jayhan, the Euphrates and the Nile are among the rivers of the
Garden. (Sahih Muslim)
Allah reveals in the Qur'an that there will be rivers of milk, honey
andwine in the Garden (Surah Muhammad: 15), but these are quite
different from the milk, honey and wine of this world, and are created
according to the special conditions of the Garden. In the Garden, each
of them is deliciousand refreshing. For example, the wine of theGarden
is not like earthlywine. It will not make the People of the
Gardendrunk or cloud their awareness. Allah describes "a cup from a
flowing spring" He has prepared in the Garden as, "white as driven
snow, delicious to those who drink, which has noheadache in it and
does not leave them stupefied." (Surat as-Saffat: 46-47)
This example of rivers of milk, honey and wine points to other
wonderful things in the Garden that may await Allah's faithful slaves.
Milk is a perishable food,but the fact that there are rivers of it in
the Garden points to the perfection of the blessings there. It is very
easy for Allah to create such manifestations when the People of the
Garden desire them.
But as for those who have iman and do right actions, We will admit
them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them
timelessly, for ever and ever. In them theywill have spouses of
perfect purity and We will admit them into cool, refreshing shade.
(Surat an-Nisa': 57)
The use of the word rivers emphasises the abundance of these blessings
in the Garden. In this world, people canonly have a limited number of
these blessings, in jars, glass bottles and in other types of
packaging, but the fact that there are never-ending and unadulterated
streams of them in the Garden is a wondrous blessing.
These rivers are described in detail in theQur'an:
An image of the Garden which is promised to those who have taqwa: in
it there are rivers of water which will never spoil and rivers of milk
whose taste will never change and rivers of wine, delightful to all
who drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity; in it they will
have fruit of every kind and forgiveness from their Lord… (Surah
Muhammad: 15)
In this verse Allah gives examples including water, milk, honey and
wine. But it is possible for rivers of other imperishable blessings,
abundant and pure as water, to flow for the delight of the believers.
Allah tells us that drinks will be offered in goblets in the Garden,
and that the People of the Garden will not get headaches from them or
lose their self-composure. In another verse of the Qur'an, Allah says,
"a cup from a flowing spring passing round among them." (Surat
as-Saffat: 45)The inmates of the Garden, "… are given the choicest
sealed wine to drink, whose seal is musk – mixed with Tasnim,"
which has been prepared for believers (Surat al-Mutaffifin: 25-27).
Tasnim is a fountain in the Garden.
Allah, exalted is He, also says in the Qur'an that these beverages are fragrant.
An image of the Garden which is promised to those who have fear of
ALLAH: in it there are rivers of water which will never spoil and
rivers of milk whose taste will never change and rivers of wine,
delightfulto all who drink it, and rivers of honey of undituted
purity;..." (Surah Muhammad: 15)