Surah Maryam 19:62
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ · Meccan · Verse 62 of 98
لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا إِلَّا سَلَٰمًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا
Translation
There they will hear only peaceful talk, nothing bad; there they will be given provision morning and evening.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This beautiful verse from Surah Maryam paints a picture of Paradise, guiding our hearts to reflect on the nature of its blessings, especially through the subtle choices of words.
Pure Speech in Paradise
The verse opens by telling us, "لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا إِلَّا سَلَٰمًۭا" (They will not hear any vain talk therein, except peace). The word "لغوًا" (laghwan) is deeply significant. Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi explain it as superfluous, useless, or reprehensible speech, anything that is idle or without benefit. By explicitly stating that Paradise is free from "لغوًا," Allah emphasizes a profound purity of environment. It is a place completely devoid of anything annoying, offensive, or even trivial that might distract or displease. Ibn Ashur notes this negation implies the absence of the slightest disturbance, a stark contrast to the hurtful and idle talk believers often endured in the worldly life.
The exception, "إِلَّا سَلَٰمًۭا" (except peace), is particularly insightful. This is understood as a "disconnected exception" (istithna' munqati'), meaning it's not that "peace" is a type of "vain talk," but rather, "but they will hear peace." This "peace" includes greetings from angels, from each other, and most sublimely, from Allah Himself, as mentioned elsewhere in the Quran. Al-Razi explains that even though a greeting of "peace" might seem like an unnecessary supplication for safety in a place already perfectly safe, its purpose in Paradise is honor and welcome. The specific wording highlights that every sound and word heard will be uplifting, honoring, and comforting, reinforcing a state of complete tranquility.
Ever-Present Provision
The verse continues, "وَلَهُمْ رِزْقُهُمْ فِيهَا بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا" (And they will have their provision therein, morning and evening). The choice of a nominal sentence (starting with a noun, "their provision") for "رزقهم" (rizquhum) signifies constancy and permanence, as Ibn Ashur notes. The provision is not fleeting but firmly established. The phrase "بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا" (morning and evening) might seem perplexing since there is no actual sun or night in Paradise, as al-Jalalayn and al-Razi point out.
However, scholars explain that this wording conveys several deep meanings. It signifies the continuous, abundant, and unrestricted availability of sustenance. Just as in this world, meals in the morning and evening mark regular rhythms of life and comfort, in Paradise, it is a metaphor for receiving provision whenever desired, without end or limitation. It is a way of saying "all the time," encompassing the entire span, not tied to earthly day and night cycles. The mention of specific meal times, as al-Razi suggests, also resonated with the desires of the Arabs, for whom having both a morning meal and an evening meal was a sign of comfort and luxury. The presentation of their "رزقهم" (their provision) with the possessive pronoun "هم" (their) further emphasizes that it is exclusively theirs, perfectly suited and destined for them, adding to the feeling of special honor and care.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Qur'anic Worlds
This beautiful verse transports our hearts to the world of Paradise, describing its unparalleled peace and continuous blessings. It's a glimpse into the divine promise for those who strive in this life.
A World of Pure Speech
The verse begins, "They will not hear therein any `laghw` except `salam`." The Arabic word `laghw` encompasses all that is vain, absurd, idle, or harmful speech. As scholars like Mufti Shafi and al-Baghawi explain, this means no frivolous chatter, no abusive talk, no falsehoods, and certainly no arguments or disputes. Imagine a place where every word you hear contributes to your happiness and serenity, where there is no noise or disturbance, as Sayyid Qutb reflects.
Instead of `laghw`, what will be heard is `salam` – peace. This `salam` is not merely the absence of idle talk; it is a positive, active form of tranquility. It includes the warm greetings exchanged among the dwellers of Paradise, the welcoming salutations from the angels, and perhaps even greetings from Allah Himself, as scholars like al-Tabari and al-Razi suggest. It is a world where every sound resonates with peace and well-being.
A World of Abundant Blessings
The verse continues, "And therein they will have their provision morning and evening." This phrase, "buka wa ashiya" (morning and evening), doesn't mean Paradise has actual days and nights like our world, complete with sunrises and sunsets. Scholars are clear that Paradise is in perpetual light, with no night or harsh elements.
Instead, this expression, as Mufti Shafi, al-Baghawi, and Ibn Kathir explain, conveys the idea of continuous, never-ending provision. It speaks to the human experience and expectation. For the early Arabs, having two full meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, was a sign of complete comfort and prosperity. So, Allah uses this familiar concept to describe a state of effortless, unending abundance. The dwellers of Paradise will have whatever they desire, whenever they desire it, not bound by earthly schedules. Al-Tabari cites companions saying that the times might be marked by symbolic changes like the raising or lowering of veils, yet the flow of light and provision remains constant. It signifies not just two meals, but a continuous stream of blessings that never ceases, always fresh, always fulfilling.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), Ibn Kathir, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Maryam 19:62 is discussed in 3 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Maryam 19:62 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.